Amit Shah urges sugar mills to diversify ethanol production with alternative feedstocks

In India, Business Standard reports Union Home Minister Amit Shah has urged sugar mills to diversify their ethanol production sources, moving beyond the traditional reliance on sugarcane.

Speaking at an event organized by the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF), Shah called on sugar mills to adopt a forward-looking approach, exploring alternative feedstocks like maize and bamboo for ethanol production. This diversification, he suggested, would not only help meet the country’s 20% ethanol blending target by 2025-26, but also open up new export opportunities, particularly with the impending establishment of the Global Biofuels Alliance.

He emphasized the need for modernization and technological adoption within the sugar industry to enhance efficiency and increase turnover. Shah also challenged the NFCSF to expand its operations, proposing the establishment of one cooperative sugar mill for every three districts in four states within a year.