Maharashtra Government Aims To Produce 250 Crore Litres Of Ethanol In Next Five Years, Reduce Sugar Production
Pune, January 18, 2021: 40 crore litres of ethanol has been produced from 70 sugar factories in the state. For the first time, a five-year plan has been prepared by the Sugar Commissionerate for sugar mills to produce more ethanol. Accordingly, the target is to reduce sugar production by 2 million tonnes and produce 250 crore litres of ethanol in the next five years.
The central government has issued licenses to 138 sugar mills in the state for ethanol production. Efforts are being made to reduce sugar production every year in phases by balancing the demand and supply of sugar from these factories. Due to the large scale production of sugar in the state, sugar is in excess. If this situation continues, the factories are likely to get into trouble. The Sugar Commissionerate has prepared a five-year plan for factories to shift to ethanol production.
Meanwhile, in the year 2020-21, heavy molasses, sugar syrup and sugar cane juice are being used for ethanol production. So far 40 crore litres of ethanol has been produced from 70 projects and the target of 108 crore litres can be achieved, informed Sugar Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad.
State Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has directed to start ethanol production projects in closed sugar mills to improve the ethanol production capacity of sugar mills. This responsibility has been given to the department of co-operation. Many of the closed sugar factories had ethanol production projects. Pawar has also instructed the co-operation department to re-launch the project on the site.
