The government has allowed sugar mills to use 6.7 lakh tonnes of B-heavy molasses as feedstock for ethanol production in the current year. The move follows the industry's request to the food ministry to allow B-heavy molasses for ethanol production and improve the finances of sugar mills. The government reversed the ban and allowed cane juice and B-heavy molasses within the overall cap of 17 lakh tonnes of sugar for ethanol production for the 2023-24 supply year.