The central government has issued in-principle approval to a total of 47 projects in Bihar for interest subvention on bank loans for setting up new distilleries or expansion of existing distilleries.
At present, 22 ethanol distilleries – 8 molasses-based and 14 grain-based – are operational in Bihar.
The government is implementing the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme across the country, wherein Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are selling ethanol-blended petrol.
Under the programme, the government has set a target of 20 per cent blending of ethanol in petrol by 2025-26.
