Latest news with #IndianSugarandBio-EnergyManufacturersAssociation
Hans India
6 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
ISMA urges govt to maintain fuel ethanol import restrictions
New Delhi: The Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has urged the government to maintain restrictions on fuel ethanol imports, warning that allowing such imports could undermine national energy security and self-reliance in green fuels. The industry body expressed concern as the United States, backed by its farm lobby groups, has been actively lobbying India to lift these restrictions and allow ethanol imports for fuel use as part of broader trade negotiations, hoping to access India's large ethanol fuel market. Negotiations are ongoing, with Indian commerce officials engaging US counterparts, but no policy changes allowing fuel ethanol imports have been implemented as of this month. ISMA Director General Deepak Ballani, in a letter to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, demanded that the government maintain current restrictions on fuel ethanol imports for blending purposes and continue supporting indigenous ethanol production. Ballani also requested the government reassure stakeholders on "policy stability," thereby encouraging continued investment and farmer-centric development.
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
ISMA urges Centre to ban ethanol imports, flags ₹40,000 crore risk
The Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has urged Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to disallow any import of ethanol for fuel purposes, warning that such a move could jeopardise thousands of crores of investment in the sector and disrupt timely payment of sugarcane dues to farmers. In a letter written a few days ago, ISMA said that India's ethanol production capacity has increased by over 140 per cent since 2018, following investments of more than ₹40,000 crore. Ethanol blending has reached 19 per cent and is on track to achieve the 20 per cent target by the 2024–25 supply year, which ends in October—one year ahead of schedule. ISMA said this progress was made possible by favourable policies and restrictions on ethanol imports for fuel purposes. 'If imports of ethanol for fuel are allowed, then it would dilute the significant gains made in domestic capacity building, investment, and job creation,' the letter stated. India is currently negotiating a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United States to avert the threat of high tariffs. According to some sources, the US is pushing for the inclusion of ethanol imports for fuel use in the deal. The US produces the bulk of its ethanol from grains.
