New Delhi: Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra clarified on Thursday that there is no proposal to permit further diversion of sugar for ethanol production during the current 2023-24 supply year, reported PTI.
The Food Ministry, in early December, directed sugar mills not to use cane juice or syrup to produce ethanol. In a U-turn, the central government, in mid-December, allowed the utilization of juice as well as B-heavy molasses to produce ethanol but capped the diversion of sugar at 17 lakh tonnes for the current marketing season.
The government capped sugar diversion for ethanol making at 17 lakh tonnes for the current 2023-24 season in view of likely fall in sugar production in parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
During a media briefing, Chopra affirmed, “There is no proposal to allow further diversion of sugar for ethanol production.”
In a bid to encourage ethanol production and ensure an ample supply of sweeteners in the market, the government is actively promoting the use of maize as an alternative to sugar. Cooperatives Nafed and NCCF have been granted permission to sell maize to ethanol makers at a base price of Rs 2,291 per quintal this year, as part of these efforts.
