On Sunday, September 14, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s goal of achieving energy self-sufficiency by inaugurating the country’s first bamboo-based ethanol facility in the Golaghat district of Assam. Alongside this event, he laid the foundation for a polypropylene plant valued at $7.23 billion at the Numaligarh Refinery. This project will be located near a bioethanol unit estimated at Rs 5,000 crore, which has been characterized as a leading ‘zero-waste’ facility that produces environmentally friendly ethanol from bamboo. The Prime Minister highlighted that this bamboo ethanol initiative marks a significant advancement in securing energy supply and will promote clean energy adoption while decreasing reliance on fossil fuels.
He noted Assam’s vital role in supporting India’s energy development and stated that the bamboo-based biofuel plant is crucial for accelerating national progress. Modi pointed out that India is one of the fastest-growing economies globally, and the energy demands are rapidly increasing, partly due to the Viksit Bharat initiative. He mentioned that in the past, India has spent millions on imports due to its dependency on foreign energy sources. While the exploration of hydrocarbons remains a priority, he affirmed India’s commitment to developing renewable energy options, including solar power. Furthermore, Modi discussed India’s deep-water exploration efforts aimed at discovering coastal hydrocarbon resources.
He stated that the bioethanol plant would provide direct benefits to local farmers and tribes, with the government pledging support to assist them in cultivating and marketing their products effectively. Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) anticipates that nearly 500,000 tonnes of bamboo will be harvested annually from four northeastern states, including Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, yielding 48,900 metric tons of ethanol, 11,000 tonnes of acetic acid, 19,000 tonnes of furfural, and 31,000 tonnes of liquid carbon dioxide for food applications.
