Maharashtra Has the Capacity to Lead India’s Potash Recovery Push

– Dr. Sanjay Kolte at IFGE Webinar

Pune | SugarToday 

Maharashtra’s sugar sector is already moving from standalone mills to integrated biorefineries, and that shift opens a direct path to recover potash at scale. That was the key point made by Dr. Sanjay Kolte, Sugar Commissioner, Government of Maharashtra, during his address at the Indian Federation of Green Energy National Webinar on Potash Recovery from Distillery Fly Ash: Technology, Sustainability and Scale on 03 July 2026.

Speaking to industry leaders, mill managements, researchers and policymakers, Dr. Kolte outlined why Maharashtra is well placed to become the country’s first major hub for potash recovery, and what it will take to get there.

From Sugar Mills to Biorefineries
Dr. Kolte said the industry structure is changing fast. Mills are no longer focused only on sugar. Many now produce ethanol, renewable power, Bio-CBG, industrial chemicals and other value-added products from the same cane.

In this model, waste streams are not just problems to manage. Spent wash, boiler ash and other residues can be treated as inputs for new products. The future mill, he said, will function as a fully integrated biorefinery, where resource recovery and waste valorization are part of daily operations.

Maharashtra’s Numbers Make the Case
The state has the scale to make recovery viable. Maharashtra has about 210 sugar units, of which roughly 30 distilleries already operate incineration boilers. That base gives the state a strong starting platform.

The waste volumes are significant. Distilleries in Maharashtra generate around 150 lakh metric tonnes of spent wash every year, plus 8 to 10 lakh metric tonnes of fly ash. Both streams carry potassium.

Dr. Kolte estimated that Maharashtra can recover about 75,000 to 1,00,000 metric tonnes of potash annually from these sources. That volume could cover 15 to 20 percent of the state’s fertilizer requirement. For a nutrient that India largely imports, building domestic capacity at this scale has both agricultural and strategic value.

Why It Makes Commercial Sense
The business case is straightforward. Potash recovery gives mills an additional revenue stream, lowers waste management costs, substitutes imports, and saves foreign exchange. It turns a cost center into a value center.

On the technical side, the top layer of incinerator ash typically contains 40 to 45 percent potash, which is suitable for efficient extraction. Modern systems can achieve 85 to 90 percent recovery efficiency. Commercial units commonly operate in the 5 to 10 tonnes per day range, and the payback period is estimated at about three years. For mills looking at capex with a clear return, the numbers are attractive.

What Must Happen Next
Dr. Kolte said scale will depend on coordinated support. Government agencies, industry associations, research institutions and technology providers will need to work together to create an ecosystem for adoption. That includes faster approvals, clear policy support and help for mills that want to invest.

He suggested four immediate steps. First, promote wider use of incineration boilers where feasible. Second, accelerate installation of potash recovery units across distilleries. Third, strengthen policy mechanisms that support recovery and product standardization. Fourth, fast-track project approvals so mills can move from planning to execution without delays.

Commitment from the Commissionerate
Closing his remarks, Dr. Kolte assured full support from the Maharashtra Sugar Commissionerate to promote potash recovery across the state. He said the goal is to improve sustainability, strengthen fertilizer security, create new revenues for mills, and accelerate the move toward a circular bioeconomy.

If Maharashtra executes on these lines, he said, the state can set the template for India’s sugar and ethanol industry to recover potash at commercial scale and lead the country’s broader resource recovery agenda.