How will the govt. produce the required fuel ethanol?
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 10)
Topic: GS3 – Indian Economy – Energy |
Context |
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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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