Proposal for higher ethanol blend in India to be discussed

The Maharashtra state government in India has agreed in principle to discuss a move to E10 petrol to help boost the sugar industry.

The current ethanol blend is set at 5% but the call has support from local farmer organisations as they could make better yields from sugarcane crops.

Sugarcane mills are currently playing farmers IR2500 (€30) per tonne of sugarcane currently, but some believe this could rise to IR3500 a tonne if the blend move happens (a figure based on taking 90 litres of ethanol from one tonne of feedstock).

Maharashtra officials also confirmed the blend proposal will be taken up at union government level.