Sugar factories seek to sell ethanol in open market

Ahmednagar, Feb 22 (UNI) The proposal to grant permission to sugar factories to sell ethanol in the open market is under active consideration of the Centre, according to All India Distilleries Association president Shankarrao Kale.

Speaking to reporters at Kopagaon near here yesterday, Mr Kale pointed out that the decision to blend petrol with ethanol was taken during the NDA government's regime.

Following the decision, sugar factories had taken up ethanol production but in the absence of any pricing policy for ethanol, huge stocks were lying idle in the sugar factories, Mr Kale said.

The Indian oil companies have now entered into an agreement with the Akhil Bharatiya Sakhar Sangh for the purchase of ethanol and tenders from ethanol producers in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.

Tenders are now expected to be finalised with sugar factories from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Mr Kale said, adding that sugar factories expected Rs 22.50 per litre of ethanol.

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