by Rajeev Jayaswal & Madhvi Sally (Economic Times) The battle for alcohol between the liquor industry and oil companies is likely to end. The government plans to allow petrol blending with ethanol produced from non-edible plants.
Currently, ethanol produced from sugarcane is the only source for blending, which makes it scarce for alcohol and chemicals manufacturing. The oil ministry has recently moved a proposal for the Cabinet to allow blending petrol with cellulosic ethanol produced from biomass such as switchgrass, paper pulp, sawdust, municipal waste and non-edible parts of plants. READ MORE