liquor manufacturers are turning a new leaf in Bihar by taking up production of Ethanol. M/s. Sona Sati Organics Pvt. ltd., an industrial unit of Bihar which was earlier manufacturing alcohol and has now changed tack. It will use the same facility to produce Ethanol
Spread over 25 acres of land in Baikunthpur Block in Gopalganj District of Bihar, the industrial unit commenced its distillery operation in June, 2013 with an investment of around Rs 200 crores. After implementation of Prohibition law in the State, the unit stopped spirit production and installed a new unit with additional investment of Rs 4.5 crores for the production of ethanol that would be supplied to the Indian Oil Corporation limited. The unit aims to produce 12 million litres Ethanol per month. The unit also aims to utilise all the molasses produced from sugarcane in the State.
Ramashankar Prasad who is the Director of M/s. Sona Sati Organic Pvt. ltd said that utilisation of molasses for the production of ethanol will not only provide value-addition to the by-product (molasses), but also ensure its better price stability for the sugar mills. This will improve the viability of sugar mills and also prove beneficial for the sugarcane growers .Besides, keeping in view the negative effect that petroleum-based gasoline has on air quality, we are of the view the expanded use of ethanol as an oxygenate can also help reduce smog and carbon emissions. This will, in turn, help to reduce air pollution in the State.
Congratulating the management of the unit for taking such a practical and useful decision to diversify their plant and making it a multi-product unit, President of the Bihar Chamber of Commerce OP shah said establishment of such type of units will boost the industrial growth in Bihar. " Since it is the pioneer industrial unit which is solely producing ethanol as ethanol was earlier manufactured in Bihar only in sugar mills, hence it has also become the premier industrial unit which may cherish the dream of the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to make the State a Ethanol Hub.
Appealing distilleries and other similar type of industrial units of Bihar to give proper consideration to the example set by M/s Sona Sati Organics Pvt. ltd., the Chamber's President urged them to plan product conversion in their existing plants, which would yield high dividends for the units as well as benefit the industrial growth of Bihar.