{"id":28803,"date":"2024-09-02T19:17:17","date_gmt":"2024-09-02T13:47:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=28803"},"modified":"2024-09-05T16:17:54","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T10:47:54","slug":"enzyme-manufacturing-to-boost-ethanol-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/02-09-2024\/enzyme-manufacturing-to-boost-ethanol-industry","title":{"rendered":"Enzyme Manufacturing to Boost Ethanol Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Syllabus :GS 3\/Environment <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In News<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • The Department of Biotechnology is considering setting up enzyme-manufacturing facilities to support ethanol production.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    About\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • The first plant may be established in Manesar, Haryana.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • The facility will supply enzymes to 2G bioethanol plants in Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Bhatinda (Punjab), and an existing plant in Panipat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      Do you know ?<\/strong>
      – Enzymes are derived from a genetically engineered fungus, Penicillium funoculosum.
      – Enzymes, crucial for converting stubble into ethanol, are currently imported and are costly.
      – Using locally developed enzymes could reduce costs by about two-thirds compared to imported enzymes.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Ethanol Production:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • Ethanol is an agricultural by-produc<\/strong>t which is mainly obtained from the processing of sugar <\/strong>from sugarcane<\/strong>, but also from other sources such as rice husk or maize.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • India\u2019s total ethanol production capacity is currently 1,589 crore litres<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Focus:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        • The current emphasis is on first-generation (1G) ethano<\/strong>l from food grains and sugarcane.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • There are calls to diversify into second-generation (2G)<\/strong> and third-generation (3G) ethanol <\/strong>to mitigate food security impacts.\n
            \n
          • 2G bioethano<\/strong>l is produced from agricultural waste like rice straw, unlike conventional ethanol from molasses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. operates a 2G ethanol plant in Panipat using rice stubble as feedstock.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            Ethanol Blending Target:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            • Ethanol blending in India reached 13.3% by July 2024<\/strong>, up from 12.6% during the 2022-23 season.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • The Union government aims to increase the ethanol blending rate<\/strong> in petrol to 20% by 2025, up from the current 13%.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              Importance <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                \n
              • Production of ethanol has led to proportionate reduction in the import of petroleum or crude oil which has resulted in saving of foreign exchange <\/strong>for India\n
                  \n
                • India\u2019s ethanol blending program<\/strong> has saved Rs 99,014 crore in foreign exchange since 2014<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Ethanol production has recharged rural economies<\/strong>, providing employment opportunities and improving livelihoods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • By utilising surplus crops and damaged food grains for ethanol production, farmers have found an additional source of income.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                  Initiatives <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                    \n
                  • The Indian government is implementing an Ethanol Blending Program (EBP) <\/strong>across the country, under which oil marketing companies (OMCs) sell petrol blended with ethanol.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • The government has lifted restrictions on ethanol production<\/strong> from sugarcane juice, B-heavy, and C-heavy molasses for the ethanol supply year starting in November.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                    Concerns:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                      \n
                    • In tropical countries like India and Brazil, sugarcane is more efficient for ethanol production.\n
                        \n
                      • However, intensive sugarcane cultivation can lead to environmental and food production challenges.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Increased maize imports and use for ethanol production are raising concerns about food security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                        State-Level Differences:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                          \n
                        • States have different impacts and responses to ethanol policies. For instance:\n
                            \n
                          • Uttar Pradesh is a major contributor to the ethanol blending program and supports the central government’s ethanol mission.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Tamil Nadu is cautious about ethanol due to its liquor market and water concerns, preferring maize as an alternative feedstock.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Maharashtra finds more profit in producing Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) for other uses rather than ethanol blending.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                            Conclusion and Way Forward <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                              \n
                            • India faces a dilemma between meeting ethanol targets and managing food inflation.\n
                                \n
                              • Options include reconsidering the ethanol target, investing in public infrastructure, and focusing on renewable energy sources like solar power.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • The future policies must involve close collaboration between the central and state governments.\n
                                  \n
                                •  It should provide sustained financial and infrastructural support to achieve meaningful results, rather than expecting immediate returns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                  Source: TH<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                  The Department of Biotechnology is considering setting up enzyme-manufacturing facilities to support ethanol production.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28803"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28808,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28803\/revisions\/28808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}