1. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

1.1 The report shall clearly bring out the following:

•  Relationship and the importance of the specific topic to the broad area to which it belongs (in brief).

•  The current status of the technology in the world and in the country. Market (domestic/export) sizes and their potentials. (Use existing information/reports to the maximum extent possible).

•  Assessment of the technology, resource parameters such as energy, raw material infrastructure and manpower etc. to arrive at preferred technology options available to the country.

•  Short term & long term economic aspects of preferred options alongwith their feasibilities.

•  Impact of the preferred option(s) by itself and its spin offs.

•  Recommendations

- For implementations of preferred technology option(s) indicating critical inputs such as raw material, capital goods and human resources required and their availability, investments required to commercialize, and benefits/returns expected. Maximum possible quantification is required.

- For R&D / Technology development indicating the requirement of inputs and expected benefits.

•  Action Plan for implementation of recommendations alongwith identification of:

- List of available technologies for Indian industry and

- The agencies/groups/individuals for implementation.

•  Expected impact of recommendations, if implemented

2. RELATIONSHIP AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TOPIC TO THE BROAD AREA TO WHICH IT BELONGS

2.1 MOLASSES – A VALUABLE BY-PRODUCT

- Being one of the largest producers of sugar in the world, India produces a large quantity of molasses. Molasses is mainly used for producing alcohol, which forms an indigenously available feedstock for a vast range of value added downstream organic chemicals in addition to potable alcohol.

- Apart from alcohol, molasses is also used in production of citric acid, lactic, acid, oxalic acid, etc.

- Molasses is also used as cattle feed.

2.2 NEED FOR BETTER EFFICIENCIES IN MOLASSES HANDLING AND UTILISATION

- Many of these chemicals produced from molasses are also produced through the petroleum route. The petroleum products are largely imported. Therefore, mounting crude oil import bill and escalating chemical prices I the international markets increase the reliance on indigenously available feed stock for chemicals.

2.3 HIGH ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND COST INEFFICIENCIES IN PRODUCTION OF MOLASSES BASED PRODUCTS

- In India the largest application of molasses is for production of alcohol. Although proven indigenous technologies are available for alcohol manufacture, the yields and quality need lot of improvement.

- Storage and transportation methods of molasses employed by user as well as producer units need correction as substantial amount of molasses go waste. Although the reasons for improper handling of molasses is more administrative than technological, the storage and transportation methods of molasses in the country need several improvements. Hence, technology upgradation and development of appropriate strategies and plans need a lot of emphasis.