India’s push for Sugar-Fuelled Cars

WHY IN THE NEWS?

India is pushing for cars to run on ethanol made from sugar. This move of the Indian government is increasing the risks of the higher cost of sweeteners worldwide.

About:

• The Indian government will fast-track an ethanol program. This programme will divert about 6 million tons of sugar toward fuel production annually by 2025.
• This amount to almost the entire sugar that India currently exports to the international market. India is the world’s second-biggest producer of sugar after Brazil.

Background

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had advanced the target for blending 20% ethanol in gasoline to 2025 which is five years earlier than it was planned.

How this target will be achieved?

In order to meet the 2025 target, India is required to almost triple ethanol production by about 10 billion litres in a year. It will require $7 billion of investment.

Challenges that India will face

• A major challenge associated with the target would be to create the kind of capacity needed in about three to four years.
• Prices of ethanol are increasing since 2017 amid a supply crunch. Prices have increased partly due to wild weather in Brazil. The further surge will increase the food inflation risks.

Advantages of ethanol blending

1. Ethanol blending will reduce air pollution.
2. It will cut India’s oil import bills.
3. It will also help in soaking up the domestic sugar glut and increase investment across rural areas.

How government is supporting the process?

The government is offering financial support to sugar mills in order to set up or expand distilleries. For instance, Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd. will stop producing sugar at some of its mills and start processing cane juice to make ethanol.

India’s strategy

India is following the Brazilian model that has promoted sugarcane-based ethanol for more than 40 years in order to increase energy security, ease its sugar glut and cut dependency on oil imports. Presently, Brazil has the largest fleet of flex-fuel cars running on any blend of ethanol and gasoline. India will also allow the production of ethanol-based flex engines.