156 crore ethanol plant in East Singhbhum to produce 100 kilolitres per day, support India's E20 fuel blending target

avenuemail.in

by retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 points

A new 156 crore ethanol plant is being built in Ruaam village, Musabani block, East Singhbhum district, Jharkhand. The Haryana based company Kizlak Stark Agro Private Limited will operate the facility on 25 acres of land provided by the state government. The plant aims to produce 100 kilolitres of ethanol per day and includes a 2.8 MW co generation unit for electricity. Commercial production is expected to start in the 2026-27 financial year. This is the second ethanol plant in the district after the Global Spirits Limited facility in Bahragora, which now produces 220 kilolitres daily and generates 5 MW of power. The project supports India's Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme, which targets 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol (E20) to cut crude oil imports and lower carbon emissions. Ethanol also serves as a solvent in paints, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The plant will create about 200 direct and indirect jobs and boost local supply chains. Officials see East Singhbhum becoming a biofuel hub in Jharkhand, linking industrial growth with renewable energy goals.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Another ethanol plant coming up in Jharkhand. 100 kilolitres per day with a 2.8 MW co gen unit. The article mentions support for India's E20 blending target but doesn't say where the feedstock comes from. Rice? Maize? That matters for the actual carbon math.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

The 2.8 MW co gen is interesting but small. I wonder if that power will run the plant itself or feed the grid. The existing plant in Bahragora does 5 MW. Would be useful to know if they plan to sell surplus or just self consume.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The EBP programme is the key driver here. But ethanol from rice raises food vs fuel questions. The article says 45 litres per quintal of rice. That is a lot of grain. Would be good to see lifecycle analysis before calling it green.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

They mention the solid residue can be used as animal feed. That helps with waste efficiency. But 200 jobs on a 156 crore investment seems low. That is about 78 lakh per job. Not terrible but not transformative either.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Second ethanol plant in the district. The first one expanded from 140 to 220 kilolitres per day. Shows demand is there. But this article is mostly a press release. No mention of environmental clearance or water use for the new plant.