Ethanol Production

Shree Renuka, Balrampur & others fall up to 6%; why are sugar stocks down?

On the bourses, shares of sugar-producing companies tumbled as much as 6 per cent, leaving investors concerned about the impact of the latest move on growth.

Centre sets sugar diversion for ethanol at zero in 2026-27 tender

India has directed oil marketing companies to exclude sugar-based ethanol from the 2026-27 tender, setting sugar diversion at zero amid concerns over domestic sugar supplies and record-high prices.

Ethanol supplies top 9.87 bn litres by Sep, grain feedstocks lead: AIDA

India's cumulative ethanol receipts reached 987 crore litres by the end of September in the current supply year, with grain-based feedstocks accounting for more than 71 per cent of the total, the All India Distillers' Association (AIDA) said on Thursday. Receipts by oil marketing companies stood at 987 crore litres in Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26 (November-October), against a total contracted allocation of 1,197 crore litres, or 82.5 per cent fulfilment, AIDA said in a statement. Grain-based feedstocks supplied 705 crore litres, or 71.4 per cent of receipts, against an allocation of 908 crore litres, a fulfilment rate of 77.6 per cent. Maize was the largest single contributor at 413 crore litres, or over 41 per cent of total receipts, against an allocation of 614 crore litres. Surplus rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) supplied 222 crore litres against an allocation of 233 crore litres, while damaged food grains supplied 70 crore litres, above their 60 crore-litre ...

Uttar Pradesh's ethanol supply chain attracts investments in distilleries

Uttar Pradesh is attracting over ₹1,000 crore in private investment from distillers, while rising ethanol output and excise exports are strengthening the state's sugarcane value chain

No ethanol link, low cane output, stockpiling push up sugar prices: Experts

Sugar prices have skyrocketed in the market amid declining sugarcane production and increased stockpiling by traders, according to experts who attributed the sharp rise to multiple factors but ruled out diversion of sugar towards ethanol production as the main reason. Opposition parties have been targeting the Centre over increased ethanol blending in petrol, alleging that the policy was pushing up sugar prices and imposing an additional financial burden on people. The government has rejected the claims and instead blamed the industry for jacking up prices despite the country having sufficient stock to meet domestic demand. The rate of loose sugar in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, has risen to Rs 75-80 per kg, a supermarket owner said on Sunday. Experts attributed the sharp rise to multiple factors but ruled out diversion of sugar towards ethanol production as the main reason. Former Maharashtra Sugar Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad said sugarcane production and yields are .

SC allows OMCs to procure additional 1.49 billion litres of ethanol

Suppliers without long-term offtake agreements will be treated on a par with other bidders under the interim arrangement accepted by the Supreme Court

₹4,687 crore interest subsidy approved for ethanol projects: Govt

The government has approved ₹4,687 crore in interest subsidies for ethanol projects and released ₹2,075 crore to Nabard since FY23 to support capacity expansion

Chouhan voices strong support for ethanol programme in farmers' interest

Agriculture minister says ethanol policy should strengthen energy security while ensuring remunerative prices for farmers and equitable treatment of all feedstock crops

Sugar price surge may hit ethanol output as mills eye better returns

Sugar prices have been rising in India because of lower production, deficient rainfall in some regions and festival-season demand

Tehseen Poonawalla alleges house arrest ahead of march against E20 policy

Activist Tehseen Poonawalla on Saturday alleged that he was placed under house arrest, without any written order, in Greater Kailash by the Delhi Police ahead of his proposed solo march and hunger strike against the BJP-led Centre's E20 fuel policy. Poonawalla had announced on July 27 that he would walk alone from APJ Abdul Kalam Marg to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg - the site where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated - and observe a day-long hunger strike on Friday against the policy. Sharing several videos on his X account, Poonawalla claimed that around 9.30 am, about half an hour before he was scheduled to leave for the march, several Delhi Police personnel, including women officers, arrived at his house and stopped him from stepping out. He said that the police neither showed him any order nor provided any documents for detaining him. Poonawala further alleged that officers told him they were preventing him from leaving because thousands of people were expected to join the ..

Rice diversion for ethanol not fuelling food inflation, says govt

The Centre said surplus rice diverted for ethanol is allocated only after meeting food security needs and buffer stock norms, while maize output remains adequate for all uses

No proposal to revert to ethanol-free or E10 petrol, says MoS Suresh Gopi

The Centre said there is no proposal to revert to ethanol-free or E10 petrol, citing E20 fuel's scientific validation, widespread adoption and benefits for energy security and sustainability

Beyond petrol blending: How ethanol is being used across the world

India's ethanol story has largely revolved around E20 petrol, but from aviation and industry to clean cooking, the biofuel is finding new applications that could shape its next phase

Despite adequate domestic output, India continues to import ethanol from US

India has achieved 20% ethanol blending and boosted domestic output, yet continues to rely on US imports, keeping its ethanol trade deficit elevated

Isma rejects misinformation around E20, urges 'evidence-based' discussion

Isma's appeal comes days after the government released a fact sheet rebutting social media 'misinformation' about India's E20 ethanol blending programme

ISMA calls E20 petrol safety concerns misleading, factually incorrect

The Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) on Wednesday said recent claims about E20 petrol damaging vehicles, attracting insects, invalidating insurance, or involving the direct mixing of sugarcane juice with fuel were 'misleading and factually incorrect'. The industry body urged that public discourse on ethanol-blended petrol be guided by scientific evidence, verified data and official clarifications. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has said India's Ethanol Blending Programme is scientifically validated, rigorously tested, and continuously monitored, in consultation with oil marketing companies, automakers, fuel testing agencies, and other stakeholders. The government said no incidents of engine failure or vehicle breakdown had been linked to E20 petrol since its rollout. The ministry said fuel-grade ethanol is produced through industrial processes such as fermentation and distillation and does not resemble its original agricultural feedstock. It is

Ethanol blending backed by global practice, scientific studies: Govt

The government on Friday issued a detailed rebuttal to what it described as misinformation circulating on social media about the country's E20 ethanol blending programme, rejecting claims ranging from excessive water consumption and engine damage to insurance invalidation and environmental harm. In a 10-point clarification, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the programme, under which petrol contains up to 20 per cent ethanol, is supported by scientific studies, international experience and regulatory safeguards. Rejecting claims that producing one litre of ethanol consumes 10,000 litres of water, the ministry said only surplus rice, cleared after meeting national food security requirements, is diverted for ethanol production. It added that ethanol distilleries consume about 3-5 litres of processed water per litre of ethanol and increasingly operate Zero Liquid Discharge systems to recycle water. The ministry also said maize, which now accounts for more than 40 per cent

E20 rollout an 'experiment', results will be known next year, govt tells SC

Attorney General R Venkataramani said the government was evaluating the nationwide rollout of E20 fuel and would have the results of the exercise by next year

How ethanol blending and El Nino threaten to alter India's sugar trade

As El Nino threatens cane output and more sugar is diverted to ethanol, India may have less sugar available for exports, raising questions over domestic supplies, fuel targets and export earnings

Nitin Gadkari approves 100% ethanol fuel use to reduce fossil fuel imports

According to the minister, ethanol has the potential to emerge as a viable alternative to petrol, helping India reduce its massive fuel import bill