The Maharashtra state government has permitted the ethanol production from maize and rice for fuel blending. It simply means that the use of food grains like maize and rice to produce ethanol through the dual feed method, further to be used for blending with petrol. However, an order issued by the state home department asserted that the produced ethanol shall not be used for liquor production.
Notably, the central as well as state governments had permitted the use of sugarcane juice and molasses for ethanol production earlier.
Moreover, distilleries can now operate even during the season during the sugarcane off-season as the latest decision came. Speaking on the latest move, B B Thombre, chairman of the West Indian Sugar Mills Association (WISMA), stated that we had requested the government to permit ethanol production from Maize and rice in the season when the sugarcane is not available.
In addition, Thombre, heading Natural Sugars and Allied Industries, a private sugar mill, asserted the decision will help in achieving the balance of maize prices and generate year-round demand. Furthermore, he said that Farmers would benefit with maize fetching ₹2,800 per quintal, adding that rice will also be used for ethanol production. He mentioned that the Food Corporation of India has a surplus of tonnes of food grains available, which can be utilised under the new policy. “This will not only boost the rural economy but also reduce pressure on sugarcane,” he said. Thombre stressed that India requires 950 crore litres of ethanol to attain the goal of 20 per cent blending with petrol by 2025, whereas currently, the production level is at 650 crore litres.
“Of this, 250 to 300 crore litres come from sugarcane-based sources and 350 to 400 crore litres from food grains,” he said, citing figures shared in a recent meeting with central government officials. Additionally, he underscored the growth in maize cultivation in Maharashtra, citing that Sambhajinagar and Jalna districts have reported sowing nearly four lakh hectares this year, a major rise from the usual 1.5 to 2 lakh hectares.