Ethanol Production: Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the top ethanol-producing state in India.

• About: Over the last eight years, the state has raised its ethanol production capacity to 2 billion liters per year, with a target to increase it to 2.5 billion liters/year.
• Benefits of Increased Ethanol Production: Higher income for sugarcane farmers due to better prices.

o New ethanol-based industries have been established, creating thousands of jobs.

o It is boosting economic activities in both rural and urban areas.

o Promoting Ethanol-Blended Petrol (EBP) helps to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel and lower pollution levels, contribute towards the net-zero emission target by 2070.

• Key Infrastructure: Asia’s largest ethanol plant has been set up in Gonda district, Uttar Pradesh.

o Another ethanol production unit has been established at the Pipraich sugar mill in Gorakhpur.

• About Biofuel Policy-2022 (Uttar Pradesh): Introduced to promote Ethanol-Blended Petrol (EBP), aims to increase farmers’ income & clean the environment. The policy is a major step in developing Uttar Pradesh as a biofuel hub.
• About: Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol) is a biofuel derived from sources like: Sugarcane, corn, rice, wheat, and biomass. Molasses, a sugar industry by-product, is a major raw material for ethanol and rectified spirit production.