Pipraich Sugar Mill to begin ethanol production

Pipraich Sugar Mill is set to broaden its operations with a new ethanol distillery. The mill is renowned for its sulphur-free sugar production. In a key move, the Uttar Pradesh state government has allocated Rs 90 crore in the 2025-26 Budget to establish the distillery, which will have a daily production capacity of 60 kilolitres. This expansion aims to expedite payments to sugarcane farmers, ensuring financial stability for them.

Originally founded as a private sugar mill in 1932, Pipraich was taken over in 1974 but ceased operations in 1999. According to reports, during his tenure as a Member of Parliament, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath persistently pushed for the revival of defunct sugar mills, though previous administrations largely ignored the issue. After assuming the office of CM in 2017, he inaugurated a new sugar mill on the same site. This brought much-needed relief to the farmers of the area.

On November 17, 2019, the revived mill began operations in record time, marking a significant milestone in the region’s sugar industry.

In November last year, the Kisan Cooperative Sugar Mill of Pilibhit district said that it would be establishing a distillery and an ethanol plant on its premises.

India achieved more than 19% ethanol blending target in January 2025, with the overall goal expected to be met in coming months. The Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri informed recently that the ethanol blending program has saved Rs 1.08 trillion in foreign exchange, reduced carbon emissions by 55.7 million metric tonnes, and replaced 18.5 million tonnes of crude oil. Uttar Pradesh, the leading sugarcane producer of India, has been instrumental in reaching this milestone.

Uttar Pradesh Leading The Quest

The state ranks as the second-largest ethanol producer in the country, after Maharashtra, in terms of installed capacity. By the middle of this year, UP would boast an annual installed capacity of 205.3 crore litres from molasses-based (sugarcane) projects and 3.4 crore litres from grain-based projects. With around 118 sugar mills and over 85 operational distilleries, Uttar Pradesh plays a pivotal role in driving India’s ethanol production efforts.