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How will the govt. produce the required fuel ethanol?

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(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 10)

Topic: GS3 – Indian Economy – Energy
Context
  • India is accelerating its ethanol blending program, utilizing diverse sources like sugar, rice, and maize to achieve energy security and reduce oil imports.

India’s Ethanol Blending Target Achieved Early

  • Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that India will achieve the target of 20% ethanol blending with petrol in the next two months, ahead of schedule.
  • This achievement will require the production of nearly 1,100 crore litres of fuel ethanol annually.

Sources of Fuel Ethanol

  • The 1,100 crore litres of ethanol will come from sugar, high-grade molasses, FCI rice, broken rice, and maize.
  • India’s ethanol distillery capacity has increased to 1,600 crore litres, thanks to government incentives and a stable market.
  • Sugar production will contribute around 400 crore litres of ethanol this year. Molasses and rice will also play a role.

Maize’s Growing Role

  • Until 2020, India was producing little to no ethanol from maize. However, since then, maize imports and cultivation have increased.
  • The government has reduced the price of FCI rice for distilleries, leading to the production of 110 crore litres of ethanol from rice.
  • Maize production is expected to reach 42 million tonnes in 2024-25, with 9 million tonnes directed to ethanol production.

Economic Impact of Ethanol Production

  • Maize cultivation has expanded due to the high demand for ethanol, benefiting farmers.
  • Ethanol production is expected to save India ₹6,000 crore on oil imports, contributing to the internal economy and farmers’ income.
  • The long-term success of ethanol will depend on balancing its production with other foodgrains. 
Practice Question:  nalyze the role of ethanol production in India’s energy security and agricultural sector, focusing on the use of maize, sugar, and rice as feedstocks. (150 Words /10 marks)

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