Uttar Pradesh Leads the Nation in Ethanol Production
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Uttar Pradesh (UP) became the first state in ethanol production. |
| Key Achievement | Increased ethanol production capacity to 2 billion liters per year, targeting 2.5 billion liters annually in the future. |
| Major Plants | Asia's largest ethanol plant in Gonda district and an ethanol production plant at Pipraich sugar mill in Gorakhpur. |
| Government Initiative | Biofuel Policy-2022 implemented to promote Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP), aiming to increase farmers' income and reduce environmental pollution. |
| Benefits | Increased income for sugarcane farmers, establishment of new industries, employment generation, reduced dependence on petrol/diesel, and progress towards net-zero emissions by 2070. |
| Ethanol Details | Ethanol is a biofuel produced from sugarcane, corn, rice, wheat, and biomass. Molasses, a by-product of sugar manufacturing, is the primary source for ethanol production. |
| Molasses Types | Grade A Molasses: 80-85% dry matter (DM); B Grade Jaggery: Similar DM but less sugar; Class C Molasses: Contains 32-42% sucrose, used as commercial feed. |
| Process | Produced through fermentation of sugars by yeast or petrochemical processes like ethylene hydration. Ethanol is 99.9% pure alcohol, blended with petrol for cleaner fuel. |