News Release Details
India plans to double ethanol blend in petrol
Mumbai 21-Sep-2007
India plans to double the requirement for ethanol blended into gasoline and lift a ban on direct production of the biofuel from sugarcane juice - measures that would help reduce the country's sugar stocks and also address, in part, the rising demand for fuel. The government will soon issue orders requiring oil companies to double the ethanol content in gasoline sold in the country to 10% by October next year from 5% now, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said on ' Wednesday. He told reporters that the government also wants farmers and sugar mills to directly produce ethanol from sugar cane juice. Currently, Indian laws allow ethanol to be produced only from the molasses left after the juice is extracted for making sugar. Pawar's comments brought relief to the sugar industry, which is battling surplus stocks and declining prices. Sugar stocks are expected to reach 11 million tones (12.1 million US tones) by the end of this month, more than half what the country consumes in a full year. The measures underscore India's efforts to explore alternative sources to meet the country's growing energy needs. The world may have a surplus of 10.8 million tones of sugar, the International Sugar Organisation said August 24. India will bypass Brazil to become the world's top producer, the ISO said. India may increase sugar output 15% next year from an estimated record 28.5 million tons this year, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said August 23. The area under sugarcane cultivation rose 6% to 5.1 million hectares. The record crop this year prompted the government to more than double its reserves to 5 million metric tonnes, and subsidise exports to prevent a glut. The government will detail the new financial incentives in 10 days, Pawar said Wednesday.
Mumbai 21-Sep-2007
India plans to double the requirement for ethanol blended into gasoline and lift a ban on direct production of the biofuel from sugarcane juice - measures that would help reduce the country's sugar stocks and also address, in part, the rising demand for fuel. The government will soon issue orders requiring oil companies to double the ethanol content in gasoline sold in the country to 10% by October next year from 5% now, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said on ' Wednesday. He told reporters that the government also wants farmers and sugar mills to directly produce ethanol from sugar cane juice. Currently, Indian laws allow ethanol to be produced only from the molasses left after the juice is extracted for making sugar. Pawar's comments brought relief to the sugar industry, which is battling surplus stocks and declining prices. Sugar stocks are expected to reach 11 million tones (12.1 million US tones) by the end of this month, more than half what the country consumes in a full year. The measures underscore India's efforts to explore alternative sources to meet the country's growing energy needs. The world may have a surplus of 10.8 million tones of sugar, the International Sugar Organisation said August 24. India will bypass Brazil to become the world's top producer, the ISO said. India may increase sugar output 15% next year from an estimated record 28.5 million tons this year, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said August 23. The area under sugarcane cultivation rose 6% to 5.1 million hectares. The record crop this year prompted the government to more than double its reserves to 5 million metric tonnes, and subsidise exports to prevent a glut. The government will detail the new financial incentives in 10 days, Pawar said Wednesday.