Godavari Biorefineries Ltd expects to commission its grain/maize based ethanol facility in North Karnataka in the current quarter as part of its broader strategy to diversify feedstock sources.
Samir Somaiya, Chairman and Managing Director, Godavari Biorefineries Ltd, said the maize based ethanol facility will add about 2 lakh litres per day of production capacity and will be co-located with its existing sugar and ethanol manufacturing operations in North Karntaka. With this expansion, the company’s total ethanol production capacity will increase from around six lakh litres per day to nearly 8 lakh litres per day.
On an annualised basis, the company estimates that its ethanol output will increase from around 10 crore litres to around 16 crore litres after the new facility becomes operational. The company has invested around ₹130 crore in the maize/grain based ethanol facility.
Godavari is in the bio-refining business, converting agricultural feedstock into sugar, biofuels and biochemicals. Somaiya said ethanol currently contributes roughly one-third of its overall operations.
Currently, the company has been using sugarcane juice and molasses to manufacture ethanol. Somaiya said the location of the grain based facility in North Karnataka offers strategic advantages as the region is rich in sugarcane, maize cultivation. A major advantage of co-locating the grain ethanol facility with the sugar plant is the availability of bagasse, a by-product of sugarcane crushing, which can be used to meet the steam and energy requirements of the grain unit. This reduces dependence on external fuel sources and improves overall operational efficiency, he said.
The dual feed stock capability (sugarcane and grain) for ethanol manufacturing would improve the company’s flexibility and reduce climate related risks and is aligned with the ethanol blending push and rising demand for grain-based ethanol. Beyond ethanol, the company produces more than 20 varieties of biochemicals derived from ethanol that cater to multiple industries and export markets, Somaiya said. The company crushed around 2.5 million tonnes of sugarcane during the last season.
Published on May 7, 2026