UP to commence ethanol production from cane from next season

Uttar Pradesh will commence production of ethanol directly from sugarcane from the next cane crushing season commencing from October. Ethanol used for blending with petrol will be produced at the public sector undertaking Pipraich sugar mill at Gorakhpur and Balrampur sugar mill.

The UP government had decided in October last year to produce ethanol directly from sugarcane and a pilot project was started at the Pipraich sugar mill.

UP is the top producer of the ethanol in India and more use of the commodity for blending with petrol will help the industry to earn more revenue and clear the payment of the farmers. There are 53 distilleries producing ethanol and annual installed capacity is 158.44 crore litre.