UP to divert molasses for ethanol production

A recent media report reveals that the Uttar Pradesh government is set to divert a portion of molasses allocated for local distilleries to the production of ethanol, which is used for blending with petrol.

The report indicates that an additional quantity of molasses from the state's sugar mills will be used to produce over 1.3 crore litres of ethanol. As a result, the state government plans to reduce the molasses quota for the manufacture of country liquor from 26 percent  to 25 percent.

The report highlighted that ethanol production has become a key priority for the state, aligning with India's goal of achieving a 20  percent ethanol blend in petrol by 2025. UP has made significant strides in this area, with ethanol production increasing from around 43 crore litres in 2016-17 to 180 crore litres in 2023-24.