Prayagraj: An under-construction unit in Prayagraj will begin ethanol production from July this year, with plans to expand into extra neutral alcohol (ENA) and liquor manufacturing by the end of 2026.
The facility, being set up by Mahakaushal Agri Crop India Pvt. Ltd. in the Shankargarh area, is expected to produce 80,000 litres of ethanol per day in its initial phase, Hindustan reported.
Company Managing Director Rakesh Jaiswal said ethanol production will begin first, followed by the manufacture of ENA, a key input for making alcoholic beverages. The unit is also being prepared to start liquor production by December.
The plant will use molasses sourced from western Uttar Pradesh, and grains will also be used in the production process. Once fully operational, the unit plans to produce around 15,000 litres of ENA daily, along with alcoholic beverages such as whisky, rum and brandy.
Built at an estimated cost of around ₹250 crore, the project has seen delays since construction began in February 2023. It was initially scheduled to be operational by mid-2025, but timelines were pushed due to multiple reasons.
Construction work has now been accelerated to meet the revised target of starting ethanol production in July, with plans to launch new liquor brands in the market later this year.