Sugarcane juice ethanol ban discussed by Ajit Pawar and Nitin Gadkari, Shah meeting planned

However, the government has allowed the use of ’B-molasses’, a cane by-product, for ethanol production in 2023-24. ”Since this issue is at the Central level, we will have to visit Delhi and meet Union Minister Amit Shah and the others concerned. And we will be meeting them soon,” Pawar said.

Ethanol, a colourless liquid, is blended with fuel as part of the government’s initiative to reduce reliance on crude oil imports. The deputy chief minister had earlier said that the ban on ethanol production from sugarcane syrup had been ”sudden”.

Many sugar mills have invested in ethanol plants with 5% of their capital and 95% of funds borrowed from outside, Pawar had told the legislative assembly after the Congress and NCP legislators raised the issue in the house on December 8.