Indian sugar mills call for 10-year ethanol offtake contracts

In India, the Business Standard newspaper reports that sugarcane mills have complained yet again that oil marketing companies are favoring non-sugar feedstock-based ethanol in their procurement. The OMCs have said previously they are not favoring grain-based ethanol over sugarcane, but they are trying to get a better balance between feedstocks. The mills say the OMCs’ reticence to enter into long-term contracts is getting in the way of their making the investments required to achieve the government’s 20% ethanol blending plans. They’re calling for 10-year contracts to ensure the viability of their investments.