Page 183 - CW E-Magazine (17-6-2025)

Special Report Special Report

Is it appropriate to use rice as feedstock for ethanol Rice as feedstock for production of allotment is needed to increase produc- production of renewable energy,
ethanol – Unacceptable in letter and
tion of ethanol.
increase production of electric vehicles,
production? spirit Perhaps, Government of India duction of ethanol by using alternate
etc., the feasibility of increasing pro-
Rice is an essential food grain
ith the object of reducing over other applica- N.S. VENKATARAMAN needed to prevent hunger and to meet thinks that it has comfortable stock of non-food crop feedstock has not been
dependence on imports of tions. Such decisions Director the basic nutritional needs of people. rice in the Food Corporation of India given enough focus.
Wcrude oil and as an eco- have to be based on Nandini Consultancy Centre Historically and traditionally, people (FCI) godowns and can afford to use
friendly strategy, Government of India cost-benefi t analysis. Chennai have emotional affi nity to rice not rice for any purpose other than human One such feedstock for ethanol pro-
has been implementing plans to blend Email: nsvenkatchennai@gmail.com only in India but in several other Asian consumption. As of May 15, 2025, duction is algae, which can be grown in
ethanol with petrol. This is an appro- Government of countries such as Japan, China, Thailand, India is reported to have 38.19-mt of coastal areas and wastelands, does not
priate strategy. As of February, 28, 2025, India should not be imports. The present import of citric acid Vietnam, Sri Lanka, among others. rice in storage, which is higher than the need clean water, and needs only sun-
India has achieved 17.98% ethanol carried away by the sole objective of exceeds 100-kilotonnes annually, while Any shortage of rice can lead to social mandatory buffer norm of 13.54-mt. shine and carbon dioxide. From algae
blending rate in the ongoing Ethanol ensuring ethanol availability for blend- that of L-lysine exceeds 85-kilotonnes, unrest. India has also unmilled paddy, which crop, biofuel can be produced, as it con-
Supply Year (ESY) (2024-25), start- ing with petrol, without carefully and their domestic demand is increas- can yield 21.36-mt of rice. tains around 20% oil. From the residual
ing November 2024, and is moving examining the alternate applications of ing at 6-7% per annum. In addition, Recently, the Japanese government algae crop biomass, ethanol can be pro-
towards achieving the 20% blending maize and their benefi ts. It appears that mannitol can also be made from maize. was forced to release 300-kilotonnes It is often reported that FCI fi nds it duced by fermentation.
target milestone. This is a noteworthy the government has not paid adequate of rice from its emergency reserves diffi cult to stock all the quantity of rice
achievement. attention to these other options for The present annual production of in a bid to calm down growing public received by it due to inadequate storage Large-scale cultivation of algae and
utilising maize profi tably and in tune maize in India is 42-mt and Govern- frustration about its availability. Social capacity. Media reports often appear use of its biomass for production of
To achieve the next target of 25% with the country’s needs. ment of India is targeting to increase media has even documented incidents about rice being stored in open areas, ethanol is an attractive opportunity for
ethanol blending, it is necessary to this to 50-mt by 2030. Conversion of of rice theft from supermarkets and exposed to rain and sun, damaging it. India, and it is surprising that it has not
increase production of ethanol in the Application potential of maize maize into value-added products such storage facilities. As rice is an essen- Is Government of India planning to use garnered the attention it deserves.
country substantially. Maize is a signifi cant food crop in as citric acid, L-lysine, mannitol, etc. tial food crop, the legitimate question this damaged rice in FCI godowns for
India, ranking as the third most would be far more remunerative than arises as to whether it is appropriate production of ethanol? There is no such Is it short term planning?
Feedstock for ethanol production important cereal after rice and wheat. It conversion into ethanol. There is sub- to use it as feedstock for production statement so far! India’s population is now 1.40-bn
In order to make ethanol available is used as both food and fodder crop. stantial outfl ow of foreign exchange of ethanol. Many are of the view that and rising. While the country is
in the enhanced quantity, Government Maize also serves as raw material for for import of these chemicals as well. such a decision amounts to misuse of If India has more rice than needed, registering steady economic and in-
of India has initiated several pro- several industrial products some of In order to boost the production of etha- the foodgrain and is wrong in letter and then the right strategy would be to export dustrial growth, particularly in the
active policies and introduced incentive which are not presently produced in nol from maize, Government of India spirit. it. This would strengthen the agricultural last ten years, a substantial percent-
schemes. As a result, a number of new India and largely or entirely imported. is providing incentives in the form of sector in India and improve farmer in- age of the population lives below the
projects for production of ethanol are high ethanol prices. In January 2024, It is absolutely essential that rice comes. When foreign exchange outfl ow poverty line and government of India
currently under implementation. To cite two examples, citric acid Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in should be optimally used for human due to import of crude oil is a matter is distributing rice free to millions in
and L-lysine can both be produced India increased the procurement price consumption and diverting it for other of concern, the solution is to improve the lower income groups to sustain
The sugar industry continues to be using maize as feedstock. Both are not of maize-based ethanol to Rs. 71.86 uses is unwise and amounts to lack of export earnings in the best way possible. them. In such circumstances, allotting
the backbone of the ethanol economy, presently produced in India and the per litre, including a Rs. 5.79 per litre understanding of the ground realities. Export of rice is one such! rice for the production of ethanol is
as sugarcane molasses is the primary entire Indian requirement is met by incentive. Unmindful about the questions raised a counter-productive and short-term
feedstock for the production of ethanol. on the appropriateness of using rice as Government of India does not seem plan. In the unfortunate event of rice
However, to facilitate the production feedstock for the production of ethanol,, to have fi rm and consistent export production falling, due to seasonal or
of larger quantities of ethanol to meet Government of India has now hiked the policy for rice. In 2023-24, it imposed other factors, the government cannot
the enhanced requirement for ethanol rice allocation for ethanol to 5.2-mt for curbs on shipments to other countries. afford to divert rice for ethanol
blending, Government of India has now 2024-25 ESY. At a conversion rate of However, these curbs were lifted in production.
permitted sugarcane juice, maize, bio- 470 litres of ethanol per tonne of rice October, 2024, after granaries were fi lled
mass, grain, and rice to be also used as used as feedstock, alcohol distilleries with rice. The only curb that remained The right course is to export the
feedstock for ethanol production. can produce nearly 2,450-mn litres of was a ban on 100% broken rice, which surplus rice. International trade in rice
ethanol from the rice quota allotted to was also lifted on March 7 this year. is vibrant and India should carve out a
Cost-benefi t scenario distilleries. fi rm place for itself in the global rice
When a food crop like maize is Other options export market, instead of changing its
allowed to be used for production of What justifi cation? There are other options for reduc- export policy frequently. Diverting it
ethanol, the question arises as to whether Government has not given any justi- ing the import of crude oil, in addition for use as feedstock for ethanol produc-
ethanol making is the most profi table fi cation so far for using rice for ethanol to ethanol blending. While steps have tion is a short-term policy and reaction
and benefi cial way of utilising maize production, except stating that the been taken by the government to boost to the surplus prevailing.

182 Chemical Weekly June 17, 2025 Chemical Weekly June 17, 2025 183

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