NEWS

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first bamboo-based ethanol plant at Numaligarh Refinery, Golaghat, Assam.
• The facility, set up at a cost of ₹5,000 crore, is billed as the world’s first zero-waste green bamboo bioethanol plant.

HIGHLIGHTS

Clean Energy & Energy Security

• Modi stressed the importance of achieving self-sufficiency in energy and reducing fossil fuel dependence.
• The bamboo ethanol plant will contribute to India’s clean energy goals, ensuring sustainable energy production.
• The project aligns with the “Viksit Bharat” vision by cutting energy imports and saving foreign exchange.

Regional & Rural Benefits

• The plant will source 5 lakh tonnes of bamboo annually from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and other northeastern States.
• It will produce 48,900 tonnes of ethanol, 11,000 tonnes acetic acid, 19,000 tonnes furfural, and 31,000 tonnes food-grade CO₂.
• Expected to boost Assam’s rural economy by ₹200 crore annually, benefiting farmers and tribal communities.
• The government will support bamboo cultivation and procurement to ensure a win-win model for industry and farmers.

Policy & Reforms

• Modi criticised past Congress governments for restrictive bamboo policies, recalling bamboo was once classified as a tree.
• The BJP government removed restrictions on bamboo cutting, enabling economic use and empowering locals.

Broader Energy Push

• Alongside biofuels, the government is expanding hydrocarbon deep-water exploration and investments in solar and green energy.
• Assam continues to play a key role in India’s energy map, contributing significantly to petroleum and alternative fuels.