Akluj Sugar Factory To Begin Gasohol Output Next Week

The Maharshi Shankarrao Mohite-Patil Co-operative Sugar Factory at Akluj in Solapur district is set to start production of gasohol, a fuel additive, from next week.

The installation of equipment for this gasohol production plant with a capacity of 40,000 litres per day has been completed. Maharashtra energy minister Padamsinh Patil will formally launch the installation process at the plant on October 26. The clearance for the project from the Centre was received some time back. The plant has diversified its operations to include the manufacture of allied products such as rectified spirit and acetic acid also to follow its gasohol production, if market conditions so favour.

Other co-operative sugar factories in the state have opted for captive power plant generating electricity as a part of their diversifying exercise.

There is large scale use of gasohol in some Latin American countries such as Brazil and Peru and to some extent in Cuba for years where sugar cane production is high.

It is used as a compound with petrol in a 20:80 proportion and would replace the imported additive agent MTB, which experts in transport and environment industries feel, would result in the saving of foreign currency besides having a positive impact on the environment.