India and Brazil, two of the world's emerging market giants, sought on Monday to forge a strategic relationship between

their distant nations and enhance their role as a strong voice of the developing world. The two fast-growing economies have come closer in recent years and built a strong relationship based on common positions on key issues such as global trade talks and expansion of the U.N. Security Council. The two countries are also working on a common position to address climate change ahead of the G8 summit in Germany this week -which both are attending -- and pushed for India's use of bio-fuels, an area in which Brazil is a world leader.

DISTANCES BLURRING Trade between India and Brazil has surged and touched $2.4 billion in 2006. They have also increased investments in each other's fastgrowing economies. Indian firms have focused on investment and joint ventures in Brazil's pharmaceutical, IT and energy sectors while Brazilian companies have targeted India's infrastructure, food processing and energy sectors. The two countries aim to quadruple trade to $10 billion by 2010 and Lula said this goal could be achieved. Indian businessmen said they were pushing New Delhi to facilitate

easier trade between the two countries and were optimistic about progress. Separately, Brazilian energy giant Petrobras offered a 25-30 percent stake to India's state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp. in three exploration blocks. In return, ONGC offered a 15-40 percent stake in its three deep-water blocks on India's east coast, and a preliminary agreement on the deals was expected to be signed shortly. The two countries also signed seven agreements, including on cooperation in space, customs and education.
Three quarters of the worlds sugar is made from sugar cane in tropical zones located in the southern hemisphere. Leading sugar cane producers are Brazil, India, China, Thailand, Pakistan and Mexico. The remainder is processed from sugar beets grown in temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. France, Germany, U.S., Russia Ukraine and Turkey produce the most from sugar beets. Not all sugar-producing countries sell their processed sugar on international trade markets. Currently, 70% the worlds sugar is consumed in the country where harvested. Only 30% is traded outside country of origin.

Top Ten Sugar Producers

Below are the leading sugar producers for 2005-6. These producers accounted for nearly 80% of the global sugar total of 150 million tons in 2005-6. (The international sugar season runs from September to August.)

Brazil 30 million tons (20% of global sugar production) European Union 22 million (14.7%) India 20 million (13.3%) China 10 million (6.6%) United States 7 million (4.6%) Mexico 6 million (4%) South African Development Community (SADC) 5.7 million (3.8%) Australia 5.4 million (3.6%) Thailand 5 million (3.3%) Russia 2.7 million (1.8%)

Top producers that also export the highest percentage of their sugar production are Australia (76%), Brazil (59%), Thailand (52%) and the European Union (37%). In contrast, India and Mexico each export just over 5% while China, U.S. and Russia do not sell processed sugar to foreign markets.

Top Ten Sugar Exporters

Below are the leading sugar exporters for 2005-6.

Brazil 17.7 million tons (39% of global sugar exports) European Union 8.1 million (18%) Australia 4.1 million (9%) Thailand 2.6 million (5.8%) SADC 1.6 million (3.6%) Guatemala 1.5 million (3.3%) India 1.4 million (3.1) Persian Gulf 1.3 million (2.9%) South Africa 1.3 million (2.9%) Cuba 1.2 million (2.7%)

International Sugar Trade Outlook

Brazil continues to dominate international sugar markets, spurred on by demand for sugar-based ethanol. In 2006-7, Thailand is expected to increase sugar exports by almost 30% due to larger sugar cane crops. Although India has increased its sugar production by 12%, the Indian government banned sugar exports until April 2007 as a way to constrain the rise of domestic sugar prices. The European Union failed to meet its responsibilities under the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture. Consequently, the World Trade Organization now restricts the European Unions subsidized exports of sugar to about 1.4 million tons per year. Despite this dramatic decline in EU sugar exports, increased shipments from Brazil, Thailand and India are expected to mitigate any adverse effects on international sugar markets

Russia is the top consumer of Brazil's raw sugar cane. India buys the most Brazilian refined sugar, followed by Canada and the U.S.
Brazilian exports of both raw and refined sugar were up significantly in 2010. The total value of raw sugar cane shipped from Brazil to the rest of the world soared 55.7% to US$9.3 billion. Overall exports of refined pure sucrose rose by a smaller but still impressive 44% to $3.5 billion.

Brazils Raw Sugar Cane Exports

The following top trade partners consumed 44.3% of Brazils total raw sugar cane exports in 2010. For raw sugar cane, the first six digits from the harmonized tariff system (HTS) code are 170111. 1. 2. 3. 4. Russia US$1.6 billion (16.9% of total Brazilian sugar cane exports) India $875.5 million (9.4% of total) China $505.5 million (5.4% of total) Malaysia $370 million (4% of total)

5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Canada $319.2 million (3.4% of total) United States $176.1 million (1.9% of total) United Kingdom $170.1 million (1.8% of total) South Korea $58.7 million (0.7% of total) Japan $52.9 million (0.6% of total) Netherlands $11.5 million (0.1% of total).

Three emerging BRIC economies (Russia, India and China) accounted for 31.7% of Brazils overall raw sugar cane shipments in 2010.

Brazils Refined Sugar Exports

Compared to sugar cane, the following trade partners consumed a much smaller amount of Brazilian refined sugar (pure sucrose), both in terms of dollar amounts and percentages. For refined sugar, the first six digits of the HTS code are 170199. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. India US$110.6 million (3.2% of total Brazilian refined sugar exports) Canada $49.1 million (1.4% of total) United States $28 million (0.8% of total) Mexico $18.6 million (0.6% of total) Russia $15.7 million (0.5% of total) Argentina $13.6 million (0.4% of total) China $9.3 million (0.3% of total) Malaysia $8.2 million (0.2% of total) Netherlands $6.4 million (0.17% of total) Germany $5.5 million (0.16% of total).

Although India is the leading importer of Brazilian refined sugar, two so-called developed nations Canada and the United States are near the top of list of refined sugar customers. This may have to do with lower labor costs for refining sugar in Brazil.

FOREIGN TRADE
Brazil invites Indian cos to invest in sugarcane farming.

Brazil, the world's largest ethanol producer, has thrown open its doors to investment by Indian companies in sugarcane farming, extracting ethanol and exporting it back home for mixing in petrol. While India dopes petrol with five per cent ethanol to cut its oil import dependence, Brazil is made up of one-fourth ethanol.

State-run fuel retailers are already talking to various companies in Brazil for cane farming and ethanol production at an investment of close to 600 million dollars. Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum will form a joint venture to take up ethanol production in Brazil. They together will have a 50 per cent stake in the joint venture, while a local Brazilian firm will have the remaining.

The initial ethanol production capacity being targeted is 500 million litres.

Growth of sugar Industry in India

Gujarat is one of the well known sugar cane producing regions in India. This has been one of the reasons for the growth of sugar industry in the state. After independence, the government gave importance to the growth of sugarcane farming in the state and established a number of sugar cane mills. After the market liberalization policies took place in the 1990s, the export of the sugar industry increased to a great extent. Due to the growth of technology, newer methods have been implemented which has increased the production of sugar. Today, the sugar mills in Gujarat are equipped with an array of hi-tech facilities and services which make them a known name in the field of agro based industries. Today, there are around 554 sugar mills and factories in the state of Gujarat. It must be noted in this respect that almost all of the Gujarat Sugar Industry is under a state cooperative system where the government partly controls the production and the business. However, there are also a number of sugar mills which are privately owned. Out of the 554 sugar mills, most of them are covered under the co operative system. According to the recent surveys, the total amount of production of sugar in the state is around 190 lakh metric tons.

Sugar mills in Gujarat

The sugar mills form a bulk of the Gujarat sugar industry. Around 17 sugar factories in the state are equipped with advanced technological equipments which have a capacity to crush around 65,000 tons of sugar daily. Around 1.9 lakh hector of the total cultivable land is meant for sugarcane cultivation. Today, the sugar mills in the state covers and employs more than 4.50 lakh farmers and cultivators. The overall turnover of the co-operative sugar mills in Gujarat crossed around Rs 2000 crores for the financial year 2008 to 2009. Apart from offering various types of employment opportunities in the organized sector, the unorganized sector also offers scope for employment for lots of people. It is estimated that the total number of people directly and indirectly associated with the Gujarat sugar industry is around 3.15 lakh.

List of sugar factories in Gujarat

Some of the well known sugar factories and sugar co-operatives in the state are:

Sugar factories Net Sales

Details 450

C/o. Sardar Coop. Sugar Industries Ltd At Kadachhala, Teh.Jetpur Specializes in the production of Pavi, Dist. Vadodara, Sector Kaveri Vibhag S. Khand Udyog Mandli Ltd. Nisha Complex, Flat No. 103, P.P. Water Tank, Khergam Road, Chikhli, Dist. Navasari 396 521, various sugar types. It has the crushing capacity of around 2500 MT of sugarcane on a daily basis.

Sahdev B. Chaudhari, Shri. Kantha Vibhag Sahakari Khand Udyog Mandli Ltd C/o. Jilla Panchayat Office, Dariya Mahel, Surat 395003, Location-Saras, Olpad, Dist. Surat, L.I. No. 197

The crushing capacity is around 2500 metric tons daily.

Shee Valsad Sahakari Khand Udyog Mandali Ltd. Parbera Pardi, The crushing capacity ranges Valsad, Gujarat Shree Damanganga Sahakari Khand Udyog Mandli LtdDaman Road, Opp. S.T. Depo, Near Jalaram Khaman House, Vapi-396 191, Ph.-(02668) 30333 from 2500 to 3000 tons. The crushing capacity is around 2500 metric tons of sugarcane.

Shree Nizar Vibhag Sahkari Khand Udyog Mandli Ltd Nizar, Dist. The crushing capacity is around Surat 2500 tons.

Shri Surat Jilla Uttar Purva Vibhag Sahkari Karkhana Udyog The mill has a crushing capacity Mandli Ltd C/o. Jilla Panchayat Office, Dariya Mahel, Ph.2953 Mandvi of Surat-395 003 Shri Ukai Asargrast Vibhag Sahakari Khand Udyog Mandli Ltd C/o Jilla Panchayat Office, Dariya Mahel, Surat-395 003, Location at Gunsada Teh. Songadh, Distt. Surat around 2500 MT of sugarcane. The crushing capacity is around 2500 tons. capacity is around

Thakorbhai J. Garasia Vanvasi Sahakari Khand Udyog Mandli Crushing Ltd Khambla Vansada, Dist. Valsad, L.I. No. 254 Vadodara Dist. Cooperative Sugarcane Growers 2500 MT.

Union The crushing capacity is around 2500 MT.

Ltd.Trimurti Apartment, R.C. Dutt Road, Vadodara- 390007

Why India MUST push for ethanol blended petrol

etroleum is one of the most precious natural energy resources. With India growing at a fast pace, the demand for

oil is set to rise. India and China will account for 45 per cent of the increase in global primary energy demand by 2030. India has become a significant consumer of energy resources. Its oil consumption has risen to 3.3 million barrels per day in 2009, from 643,000 barrels of oil per day in 1980, making it the world's fourth biggest consumer of oil. India is also the fourth largest producer of ethanol in the world. Ethanol production in India has an advantage as its production could potentially leave sugar prices unaffected. By blending petrol with 10 per cent biofuel, 80 million litres of petrol could be saved annually in India, says a report by the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses.

In India, ethanol made its foray into the transport sector as a fuel additive in 2001. The government launched three
EBP pilot projects, the first in Uttar Pradesh, followed by two others in Maharashtra. In order to enhance the country's energy security, the Government of India mandated blending of 5 per cent ethanol with petrol in 9 States and 4 Union Territories in the year 2003 and subsequently mandated 5 per cent blending of ethanol with petrol in 20 States and 8 Union Territories in November 2006 on an all-India basis except a few North East states and Jammu & Kashmir. The programme was a significant step in utilising alternative, renewable and environment-friendly sources of energy like ethanol to supplement fossil fuels. The sugar industry agreed to all the terms of the oil marketing companies (OMCs), which include agreeing to a fixed price for three years and has also demonstrated adequate availability of ethanol to increase the blending proportion to 10 per cent. Despite the group of ministers (GoM) headed by the finance minister endorsing a price of Rs 27 per litre in April 2010, the programme continues to hang fire.

Why Ethanol Blended Petrol

The EBP programme is primarily based on indigenously produced ethanol from sugarcane molasses, which,
besides augmenting fuel availability in the country, would also provide better returns for sugarcane farmers.

Further, ethanol is environment-friendly as it enhances combustion of petrol, resulting in lower emission of pollutants. With reduced dependence on crude oil consumers can pay less for petrol and enjoy the benefits of a clean and healthy environment. What is ethanol? Ethanol is an organic solvent, similar in properties to the hundreds of other components of petroleum-derived gasoline. Yet, there is a big difference: ethanol burns cleaner itself, and also it burns more completely the petrol it is blended into. Ethanol can be made from natural resources, organic liquids or coal beside grains, cassava etc. but the sources that are most common, cheaper and also renewable are natural raw materials such as sugarcane juice or molasses. This is because the raw material will be remade in exactly the same way during the following crop cycle. This is a result of the action of photosynthesis upon the carbon dioxide. In India, ethanol is mainly derived by sugarcane molasses, which is a by-product in the conversion of sugarcane to sugar. Therefore, ethanol does not compromise on the food security front. The government's EBP programme would lead to better returns for sugar cane farmers and therefore better sugarcane and sugar production. In India, ethanol production does not take away land from food crops. Ethanol production = Higher cane price = Rural prosperity.

Ethanol and your car

Engine performance and total emissions are both improved by the addition of ethanol to petrol.
Another performance benefit from ethanol is its high octane addition to fuel. Of all the commercially viable octane boosters possible, nothing delivers more punch than ethanol. The populace still feels the ill effects of the tonnes of poisonous lead that are spewed into urban environments because of the poor decision to accept lead over ethanol as the octane additive of choice. Other benefits due to ethanol in cars are technical in nature, but may be summarised as follows: 1. Cleans engine over time, especially harmful combustion chamber deposits; 2. Improved front end volatility for better cold start and improved operation (driveability and distillation curve effects); 3. Dissolves any fuel line and fuel tank water, which are sources of corrosion, and eliminates them out through the exhaust; 4. The higher octane of the ethanol blend allows the new cars with higher compression ratio to run smoothly without any change in engines. Blending ethanol up to 10 per cent has technical benefits without impacting on engine performance and fuel efficiency in cars.

Exhaust versus evaporative emissions

Adding ethanol to regular unleaded petrol at 10 per cent is an easy way to make unleaded premium, and it extends
supplies by 10per cent. Without any modification of the base petrol, however, the vapour pressure of the fuel will increase slightly, leading to more evaporative, or fugitive, emissions. These are primarily vapours that escape the carbon canister on the automobile, or are forced into the air as the level in a fuel tank rises. They do not include fuel spills, because normally the entire volume of a gasoline spill will evaporate in any case. The question is whether this greater evaporative mass gives rise to greater pollution potential than the large benefit of exhaust emissions reduction. In the view of some fuel scientists the nature of the chemical make-up of this new vapour space is less harmful that the unblended, but lower pressure, base gasoline has. Ethanol itself, for example, which is now part of the vapour, has a lower ozone-forming potential than olefins and aromatics. Adding ethanol to regular unleaded extends supplies to the extent of blending and lowers risks of ozone formation. Ethanol and health After years of ethanol use in once-polluted major cities in the United States, Europe and Brazil, the air is demonstrably cleaner and within federal guidelines for a healthy lifestyle. Not only are toxic species reduced, such as carbon monoxide and aromatics, but also the potential to produce ground level ozone is lower because the elements necessary for its production have been greatly lessened. In particular, high octane benzene, known to cause leukaemia, can be nearly eliminated because ethanol can provide the octane it once did.

The benefit to citizens of urban airsheds is enormous. Cleaner air means healthier people, especially those that suffer from respiratory diseases. Mortality rates will improve, health care visits will decrease in number and severity, health care costs and insurance rates will benefit, and productivity will improve as absenteeism and performance is improved. EBP = Clean air = Healthy people

Ethanol energy balance compared to petrol

Ethanol yields more energy net to the planet than it takes to produce it. Petrol, or any fuel derived from fossil
sources, cannot possibly do so. You are always at a deficit because you must consume some of the energy contained in the fuel to transport and process it, and you never get anything back. The carbon dioxide from combustion adds to the atmospheric inventory of other greenhouse gases. With ethanol, the carbon dioxide produced either during fermentation or combustion will be remade into exactly the same amount of plant matter from which it was made. This photosynthetic cycle is what is meant by the renewable nature of ethanol, which in fact is classified as a solar fuel.

Doing a complete energy balance, to include inputs at all levels of processing and giving credits where due, still makes for a positive balance using modern methods of farming and ethanol manufacture. This is an important part of what is meant by ethanol being sustainable. The EBP programme will contribute to India's food security and energy security objectives.

Limit of ethanol in petrol

Strong evidence exists that ethanol blends up to 10per cent are, in the words of the US Environmental Protection
Agency, 'substantially similar to gasoline'. Every manufacturer of petrol-burning engines, for any transport application in the US, warrants the use of E10 as acceptable, and some go so far as to recommend it. While there is no compelling evidence that blends up to 20 per cent might cause harm to the current and future fleet of automobiles, neither is there any evidence that harm will not be done, other than good fortune in the experiences so far. Until such time as credible evidence proves otherwise, and the production of ethanol in India is so great that we can afford to provide some blends higher in percentage than E10, prudence requires that a limit of 10 per cent be applied.

10 per cent blend of ethanol will cause no harm to the current and future fleet of automobiles.

What is needed?

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs mandated 5 per cent blending of ethanol with petrol in November
2009. Thereafter, an empowered committee of the government headed by the Union minister of agriculture, consumer affairs, food & public distribution and also comprising the Union minister for petroleum and natural gas, and the Union minister of new and renewable energy sources recommended the fixation of ethanol price at Rs 27 per litre for 3 years in December 2009. This price was further endorsed by the group of ministers headed by the finance minister in April 2006. The above recommendations were made after ensuring that even in years of shortage, the production of molasses based alcohol would be enough to meet the 5 per cent EBP programme even after meeting the requirement for potable purposes. Regarding the ethanol price, purchase of ethanol at Rs 27 per litre by OMCs is not only a commercial proposition, but it also leaves substantial profit of about Rs 8 per litre of ethanol purchased by OMCs. This price is also on par, if not slightly lower than the prevailing import prices (at an average price of about $655 per tonne during April to July 2010, the import price works out to a landed price of about Rs 33 per litre inclusive of customs duty and others). The stage, therefore, is set and what is needed is a quick kick-start to the EBP programme of the government. It is about time that in the interest of the nation's food security and energy security objectives the programme is given its much needed boost.

Report Highlights: The Government of India (GOI) approved the National Policy on Biofuels on December 24, 2009. The policy proposes a target of 20 percent blending of bio-diesel and bio-ethanol by 2017. Indias biofuel strategy continues to focus on the use of non-food resources; namely sugar molasses for production of ethanol and non-edible oils for the production of biodiesel. The governments current target of 5 percent blending of ethanol in petrol has been successful in years of surplus sugar production, but unfilled when sugar production declines. Biodiesel production in India is very small due to inadequate supplies of feedstock.

The biofuel policy encourages use of renewable energy resources as alternate fuels to supplement transport fuels (gasoline and diesel for vehicles) and proposes a target of 20 percent biofuel blending (biodiesel and bio-ethanol) by 2017. Presently, the government is unable to implement compulsory blending of 5 percent ethanol in petrol (gasoline) due to the short supply of sugar molasses in 2009/10 and 2008/09 because of overall low sugarcane crop production in India. Consequently, India imported about 280 million liters of ethanol in 2009 to meet the demand for industrial and potable liquor production. With a bumper sugarcane and sugar production outlook for 2010/11, the government is likely to renew its focus and implement the mandatory 5 percent ethanol blending in petrol. Industry sources report that the government is likely to take a decision on the purchase price of ethanol for the Ethanol Blending Program (EBP). Commercial production of biodiesel in India is very small and its utilization is mostly confined to the unorganized sector. The governments ambitious plan of producing sufficient bio-diesel by 2011/12 to meet its mandate of 20 percent diesel blending is unrealized due to a lack of sufficient jatropha seeds to produce biodiesel.

Advanced biofuels in India are still at the research stage and it will take time before commercial production becomes economically viable. Biomass is frequently used in sugar mills, textiles, paper mills, and small and medium enterprises (SME) for both heat and power generation. India is the fifth largest primary energyconsumer and fourth largest petroleum consumer in the world. Growingpopulation and rapid socioeconomic development has spurred an increase in energy consumption across all major sectorsof the Indian economy. Given limited domestic energy resources, most energy requirements are met through imports. Provisional estimates indicate that India meets more than 76 percent of its petroleum demand through imports. Per an estimate from the GOIs Petroleum Conservation Research Association, the average consumption of petroleum productsin India is as follows: 1.Transport (Petrol, Diesel, CNG, Aviation Fuel) : 51 percent 2. Industry (Petrol, Diesel, Fuel Oil, Naphtha, Natural Gas): 14 percent 3. Commercial buildings and Others: 13 percent 4. Domestic (LPG and Kerosene): 18 percent 5. Agriculture (Diesel): 4 percent Energy demand across the transport sector is likely to be higher given double digit growth in the Indian economy, rise in domestic spending levels, and improving road infrastructures have all led to an increase in new vehicle registrations and ownership. Indias on-road vehicle population has increased from 49 million to more than 65 million vehicles over the last five years and is expected to grow annually by 8 to 10 percent. Diesel and gasoline-based oils meet more than 95 percent of the requirement for transportation fuel, and demand has been expected to grow by 6 to 8 percent per year during the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12).

The current growth in transport activity and the consequent increase in petroleum consumption is posing serious concerns for the environment. Given that India is the worlds fourth largest contributor to carbon emissions, the GOI transport policy is targeting EURO-III and IV norms for vehicles, which in turn would require adoption of clean and green fuel. The government is seriously concerned about economic, environmental and energy security, and is looking for use of alternate fuels to meet energy demand in a technically efficient, economically viable and environmentally sustainable manner. Presently the GOI is promoting and encouraging production and use of i) ethanol derived from sugar molasses/juice for blending with gasoline and ii) biodiesel derived from non-edible oils and oil waste for blending with diesel. POLICY AND PROGRAM: INDIAS BIOFUEL POLICY SNAPSHOT OF INDIAS NATIONAL POLICY ON BIOFUELS: Setting up a National Biofuel Coordination Committee under the Prime Minister for a broader policy perspective and set up a National Biofuel Steering Committee (NBSC) to provide policy guidelines. Strengthen Indias energy security by encouraging use of renewable energy resources to supplement transport fuels. A 20 percent target for blending of biofuel for both bio-diesel and bio-ethanol by 2017 is proposed. Meet the energy needs of a vast rural population as well as stimulate rural development and create employment opportunities. Address global concerns about the containment of carbon emissions through the use of environmentally friendly biofuels. Derive bio-fuels from non-feed stock that would be raised on degraded land or wastelands that are not suited to agriculture, thus avoiding a possible conflict of fuel verses food security. Facilitate and bring about optimal development and utilization of indigenous biomass feedstock for the production of biofuels. The

policy also envisages development of next-generation, more efficient biofuel conversion technologies based on new feed stocks. Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism to ensure a fair price for bio-diesel oilseed growers. The implementation of the proposal would be considered carefully after consultation with stake holders, central and state governments and then by the Biofuel Steering Committee and finally decided by National Biofuel Coordination Committee. Oil Marketing Companies propose to purchase bio-ethanol at a Minimum Purchase Price (MPP) based on the actual cost of production and the import price of bio-ethanol. In the case of biodiesel, the MPP should be linked to the prevailing retail diesel price. Biofuel technologies and projects will be allowed 100 percent foreign equity through automatic approval routes to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), provided biofuel is for domestic use only, and not for export. ETHANOL POLICY. Ethanol is produced in India from sugar molasses for blending with petrol. Beginning January, 2003, the GOI mandated the use of 5 percent ethanol blend in petrol through its ambitious Ethanol Blending Program (EBP). Developments in EBP: January, 2003 Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) made 5 percent ethanol blending in petrol (gasoline) mandatory across 9 States and 5 Union Territories, Partially implemented due to unavailability of ethanol (due to low sugarcane production in 2003/04 and 2004/05) September, 2006

Resurgence in sugarcane production in 2005/06 and 2006/07 led GOI mandate 5 percent blending of ethanol in gasoline across 20 states and 8 Union Territories subject to commercial viability OMC contracted for 1.4 billion liters of ethanol for EBP at Rs 21.50/liters from Nov 2006 to Nov 2009. Only 540 million liters of ethanol supplied till April 2009 due to short supply of sugar molasses. GOI deferred implementation due to short supply of sugarcane in 2007/08. September, 2008 Union Cabinet approved the National Biofuel Policy. Five percent blending mandatory across all states in the country. Blending ratio to be raised to 10 percent. Targets 20 percent blending by 2017.GOI deferred the plan again due to short supply of sugarcane and sugar molasses in 2008/09. Since Indian sugarcane production is cyclical, ethanol and alcohol production in India depends on the availability of sugar molasses (a byproduct of domestic sugar production). Lower sugar molasses availability and consequent higher molasses prices have impacted ethanols cost of production, thereby causing a disruption in the supply of ethanol at pre-negotiated fixed ethanol prices. Presently, the government is unable to implement compulsory blending of 5 percent ethanol in petrol(gasoline) due to the short supply of sugar molasses in 2009/10 and 2008/09 on low sugarcane crop production. With a bumper sugarcane and sugar production outlook for 2010/11, the government is likely to renew its focus and implement the mandatory 5 percent ethanol blending in petrol. Industry sources report that the GOI is likely to take a decision on providing a hike in purchase price of ethanol for the Ethanol Blending Program (EBP) for upcoming 2010/11 season.

Augmenting ethanol supply: Currently, the government does not allow use of imported ethanol for the EBP program, as the focus is on developing domestic production capacities. To augment supply, the GOI has permitted ethanol production directly from sugarcane juice while ensuring that the move does not constrain production of sugar or ethanol for industrial use. Efforts to produce ethanol from sweet sorghum, sugar beets, and sweet potatoes, however, are at the experimental stage. The government does not provide any direct financial assistance or tax incentive for the production or marketing of ethanol or ethanol blended petrol. The GOI is offering subsidized loans (through sugarcane development funds) to sugar mills for building ethanol production units. The loans would cover a maximum of 40 percent of the project cost to sugar mills for development of ethanol production unit. Impediments: Higher taxes and levies in different states have impacted the Ethanol Blending Program. Rules and regulations (high excise duty, inter state charges etc.) applicable to the control of alcohol for potable industry use are equally applicable for ethanol blending with petrol, thereby constraining its availability and utilization for the EBP.

Production process
Sucrose extracted from sugarcane accounts for little more than 30% of the chemical energy stored in the mature plant; 35% is in the leaves and stem tips, which are left in the fields during harvest, and 35% are in the fibrous material (bagasse) left over from pressing. Most of the industrial processing of sugarcane in Brazil is done through a very integrated production chain, allowing sugar production, industrial ethanol [68][81] processing, and electricity generation from byproducts. The typical steps for large scale production of sugar and ethanol include milling, electricity generation, fermentation, distillation of ethanol, and dehydration. [edit]Milling and refining See also: Sugarcane Once harvested, sugarcane is usually transported to the plant by semi-trailer trucks. After quality control sugarcane is washed, chopped, and shredded by revolving knives. The feedstock is fed to and

extracted by a set of mill combinations to collect a juice, called garapa in Brazil, that contain 1015% sucrose, and bagasse, the fiber residue. The main objective of the milling process is to extract the largest possible amount of sucrose from the cane, and a secondary but important objective is the production of bagasse with a low moisture content as boiler fuel, as bagasse is burned for electricity generation (see below), allowing the plant to be self-sufficient in energy and to generate electricity for the local power [81] grid. The cane juice or garapa is then filtered and treated by chemicals and pasteurized. Before evaporation, the juice is filtered once again, producing vinasse, a fluid rich in organic compounds. The syrup resulting from evaporation is then precipitated by crystallization producing a mixture of clear crystals surrounded by molasses. A centrifuge is used to separate the sugar from molasses, and the crystals are washed by addition of steam, after which the crystals are dried by an airflow. Upon cooling, [81] sugar crystallizes out of the syrup. From this point, the sugar refining process continues to produce different grades of sugar, and the molasses continue a separate process to produce ethanol. [edit]Fermentation, distillation and dehydration See also: Ethanol fermentation and Azeotropic distillation The resulting molasses are treated to become a sterilized molasse free of impurities, ready to be fermented. In the fermentation process sugars are transformed into ethanol by addition of yeast. Fermentation time varies from four to twelve hours resulting in an alcohol content of 7-10% by total volume (GL), called fermented wine. The yeast is recovered from this wine through a centrifuge. Making use of the different boiling points the alcohol in the fermented wine is separated from the main resting [81] solid components. The remaining product is hydrated ethanol with a concentration of 96GL, the highest concentration of ethanol that can be achieved viaazeotropicdistillation, and by national [82] specification can contain up to 4.9% of water by volume. This hydrous ethanol is the fuel used by ethanol-only and flex vehicles in the country. Further dehydration is normally done by addition of [81] chemicals, up to the specified 99.7GL in order to produce anhydrous ethanol, which is used for [17] blending with pure gasoline to obtain the country's E25 mandatory blend. The additional processing required to convert hydrated into anhydrous ethanol increases the cost of the fuel, as in 2007 the average [74] producer price difference between the two was around 14% for So Paulo State. This production price difference, though small, contributes to the competitiveness of the hydrated ethanol (E100) used in Brazil, not only with regard to local gasoline prices but also as compared to other countries such as the United [83] States and Sweden, that only use anhydrous ethanol for their flex fuel fleet.

Brazil is the world's second largest producer of ethanol fuel and the world's largest exporter. Together, Brazil and the United States lead the industrial production of ethanol fuel, accounting together for 87.8% [1][2] of the world's production in 2010. In 2010 Brazil produced 26.2 billion litres (6.92 billion U.S. liquid [1] gallons), representing 30.1% of the world's total ethanol used as fuel.

Nitish wants Centre to help make Bihar ethanol hub

Dipak Mishra, TNN Jul 24, 2009, 05.34am IST

PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar has written to Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar urging him to relax the amendment in Sugar (control) order of December 2007 and strive for presidential assent to the Bihar Sugarcane (Regulation of supply and purchase) Amendment Bill, 2007, to help Bihar develop as an ethenol hub. Referring to Pawar's statement in Parliament on Bihar's demand for promoting ethanol production directly from sugarcane juice, Nitish said Pawar's assurance on the floor of the House was still "short of expectations".

Pawar, in his statement in Parliament, said the Centre had taken initiatives to blend up to 10 per cent of ethanol in petroleum products. He said the gap between prices of sugar and ethanol made production of ehtanol exclusively an unviable project. Pawar also pointed out that 11 exclusive ethanol plants in Maharashtra were now closed and at present nobody would come up with such a proposal. He said after their visit to Patna, industrialists in their field and study reports mentioned they did not want to set up sugar mill there. Pawar stressed that in Brazil the mills had a crushing capacity of 35,000 tonnes compared to 2,000 tonnes in India. Nitish, in his letter dated July 22, said Pawar' arguements we "not in consonance with facts". He said if the Union government was to make mandatory blending up to 10 per cent ethanol with petroleum, the requirement will be very large and it should encourage local ethanol production to meet the demand. The Bihar CM also said the price of ethanol (Rs 22.50 per litre) was fixed six years ago when crude and petroleum prices was nearly half the current rates. "There is enough justification to have a re-look at the price being offered for ethanol by petroleum companies," Nitish said stressing that the price difference between sugar and ethenol was an artificial one. Nitish also stressed that experience of Maharashtra in ethanol production was not relevant to Bihar because the production is targeted to meet the export requirements, not domestic needs. Nitish said in Bihar proposals for setting up 25 sugar mills have been approved of which only four have initiated action. "The main reason for the others not immediately showing interest is the fall in sugar prices. However, the scenario is likely to change with the rising sugar price," he said maintaining that the state has succeeded in reviving some of its closed sugar mills through privatization

and firms like Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and M/s Reliance India made successful bids. He also pointed out that the state investment promotion board had approved 13 mega projects for production of ethanol, ten of which were sugar-based and three maize-based. "The proposed capacity of the sugarcane-based plants are 25,000 tonnes per day and in case of maize-based 1,25,000 tonnes," he said while pointing out that each of these mega projects will produce 200 MW power.

Government should review ethanol policy: Kalam

National,Business, Thu, 28 May 2009IANS Gandhinagar, May 28 (IANS) Former Indian president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has urged the government to review its ethanol policy to encourage more sugar producers to start producing biofuel on a commercial scale.

'The sugar producers need sufficient incentives from the government to be encouraged to produce a large quantity of ethanol,' Kalam said while addressing the first convocation ceremony of the Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University here late Wednesday.

'The prime issue is the pricing of the ethanol, which is not attractive enough for the sugar producers,' said the former president.

At present, the government allows blending of five percent ethanol with petrol. In the next phase, this may go up to 10 percent, giving a boost to the industry, Kalam hoped.

He added that an increase in the demand of biofuel would help farmers who cultivate jatropha and algae, from which the fuel is largely being produced in India, earn more income.

According to Kalam, the argument that using plants for biofuel production would lead to food crisis is a 'wrong notion'.

'This is certainly not true for India which has nearly 60 million hectares of waste land. Research is required to determine the particular plant variety which would give maximum yield of jatropha seeds and maximum yield of oil from the seeds,' he added.

On the country's power generation scenario, the former president said India's capacity had to increase to 400,000 MW by 2030 from the current level of 150,000 MW.