Chhattisgarh state cabinet OKs ethanol plants co-located at four coop sugar mills

In India, the Daily Pioneer newspaper reports that the Chhattisgarh state cabinet has approved proposals for public private partnership model ethanol plants to be set up at cooperative sugar mills in Kawardha, Pandaria, Balod and Ambikapur. The Indian government has been providing soft loans and other support to try to encourage sugar mills to introduce or expand ethanol production in order to supply the 10% ethanol blending mandate. However, with recent oil prices falling to $30 per barrel, despite the policy oil marketing companies are likely to forego ethanol blending wherever possible.