Question : Ethanol Production

(a) whether production of ethanol directly from sugarcane is permitted in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the number of mills which are producing ethanol directly from sugarcane along with the manner in which it is being used;
(c) whether the ethanol produced from molasses instead of sugarcane is more useful and beneficial and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has rejected the demand of some States to produce ethanol from sugarcane juice and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the action plan formulated to increase production of ethanol in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)
(a): Production of ethanol directly from sugarcane for blending with petrol is not permitted.
(b): Does not arise.
(c): The ethanol produced either from molasses or sugarcane is equally useful and beneficial. However, production of ethanol from sugarcane is not economical.
(d) No such request has been received in the recent past from any State Government.
(e) The Government is promoting various Research and Development (R & D) programmes for developing bio-fuel technologies, particularly second generation bio-fuel technologies for production of ethanol from Lingo-Cellulosic materials. With a view to increase production of ethanol, the Government is also providing soft loans of up to 40% of the project cost to the sugar mills for setting up ethanol projects.
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