Ethorka plans Rs 150 cr ethanol plant in Varanasi

In a major boost to India’s green energy transition and rural development, Ethorka Private Limited is set to establish a state-of-the-art, grain-based ethanol distillery with zero liquid discharge technology in the Sewapuri block of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

The ethanol facility will be built with an investment of Rs 150 crore and is expected to commence operations by mid-2026.

With an installed capacity of 120 Kilo Litres Per Day (KLPD), Ethroka ethanol plant will contribute significantly to the Government of India’s Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP), which aims to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels and enhance energy security through sustainable alternatives.

The foundation stone for the ethanol project of Ethroka was laid on 19th February 2024 during the Ground Breaking Ceremony (GBC) 4.0 of Invest UP, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Ethroka believes that the ethanol plant is poised to bring wide-ranging socio-economic benefits to the region. It will create employment opportunities, strengthen rural livelihoods through local procurement of agricultural produce, and uphold environmental standards by adopting zero liquid discharge (ZLD) processes.

Pragya Singh, Founder and Managing Director of Ethorka Private Limited, emphasized the project’s broader impact, by stating that the upcoming plant will not only support India’s ethanol blending targets but also uplift the local economy by generating jobs, enhancing farm incomes, and promoting sustainable industrial practices.

Ethorka aims to set new benchmarks in environmentally responsible ethanol production. The project is currently in the regulatory approval and documentation phase. As per reports, the company representatives recently met with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow to update him on the progress and explore avenues of state-level support to expedite implementation.