Informist, Tuesday, Jun 25, 2024

--Food secy: Good rains likely to boost sugarcane output in 2024-25

--CONTEXT: Food secy Chopra at International Sugar Organisation meet

--Food secy: Govt focusing on ethanol output from maize

--Food secy: More ethanol from grain-based feedstock vs molasses this yr

--Food secy:Aim to leave sufficient sucrose for '24-25 ethanol output

NEW DELHI – India is likely to produce more sugar in the upcoming season starting in October, as good rain will boost sugarcane production, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said. We are hoping that in 2024-25, we will end up with better than expected production figures due to good rain, he said.

Chopra was giving the inaugural address of the International Sugar Organisation council meeting at Delhi today. "While India is privileged to be the chair of ISO (International Sugar Organisation) this year, I would like to mention that last September, India spearheaded the global biofuel alliance to maximise efforts towards decarbonisation and enhance the use of ethanol," he said.

The global organisation is the largest international body focusing on a commodity with more than 85 countries. The sugar industry should primarily focus on developing drought-resistant crops, water conservation, and transitioning to biofuels, he added.

Chopra also highlighted the need for green financing to enhance ethanol production capacity. About meeting the 20% ethanol blending target by 2025-26, Chopra said, India is thrusting its focus on maize-based feedstock. He also pointed out that for the first time, oil marketing companies will be receiving more ethanol from grain-based feedstocks over molasses-based ones.

Amid concerns over sugar production this season ending in September, the government allowed only 2 mln tn of sugar diversion for ethanol production. We hope to put aside a reasonable quantity of sucrose for ethanol production in the upcoming season, Chopra said.

Asked about the estimated sugar production and sucrose diversion for ethanol output in 2024-25, Chopra told Informist that it is early to arrive at figures.

As of Apr 30, mills in the country produced 31.4 mln tn sugar. The Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association, or ISMA, expects another 500,000-600,000 tn of sugar output from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in Jun-Sep, taking the total sugar output in the country to 32.0 mln tn this season, against 32.8 mln tn last year, it added.

Ethanol is made from starch-containing feedstocks like molasses and grains. Sugarcane juice, B-heavy molasses, and C-heavy molasses are sugarcane by-products obtained during sugar extraction. Sugarcane juice has the most sugar content, followed by B-heavy and C-heavy molasses.

To reduce dependence on crude oil, the government has set a target of achieving 15% blending of ethanol with petrol in 2023-24, and 20% in 2025-26. As of Apr 30, oil marketing companies procured 2.70 bln ltr of ethanol in the ethanol supply year 2023-24 (Nov-Oct) and achieved 12.07% blending with petrol. End

Reported by Afra Abubacker

Edited by Aditya Sakorkar

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