India’s First Integrated Ethanol Refinery Opens
India’s first integrated first-generation and second-generation bio-ethanol refinery is set to open in Odisha’s Bargarh district on July 4, marking a major step in the country’s clean fuel and agricultural waste utilisation efforts.
Odisha Bio-Ethanol Refinery To Open In Bargarh
The ₹1,775 crore refinery has been developed by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited in Bargarh district. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to inaugurate the facility on July 4.
The refinery has been designed as an integrated 1G and 2G bio-ethanol unit, making it the first such facility in India. It will support the country’s efforts to expand ethanol blending, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote cleaner transport fuel.
BPCL Integrated 1G 2G Ethanol Plant
The plant has an annual production capacity of around 6.3 crore litres of ethanol. It includes 100 kilolitres per day capacity each for first-generation and second-generation ethanol production.
The 1G unit will use surplus rice grain, while the 2G unit will convert paddy straw and other agricultural residues into ethanol. This integrated model is expected to improve resource efficiency and support India’s biofuel mission.
Paddy Straw To Fuel Clean Energy Push
The refinery is expected to provide farmers with an additional income opportunity by creating demand for paddy straw, which is often treated as agricultural waste. It will also help reduce stubble burning and support better residue management in the region.
The project has been developed under the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, which promotes second-generation ethanol production from biomass and agricultural waste. Once operational, the Bargarh refinery is expected to strengthen India’s ethanol blending programme and contribute to the country’s clean energy transition.
