PM Modi Inaugurates Bioethanol, Polypropylene Projects in Assam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a bamboo-based bioethanol plant and laid the foundation stone for a polypropylene unit at Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Golaghat, Assam. These projects are part of a ₹18,000 crore investment initiative aimed at strengthening Assam’s role in India’s energy and industrial transformation.

The Prime Minister emphasized that these initiatives support India’s energy independence, clean fuel adoption, and self-reliance in manufacturing, especially under the larger umbrella of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign.

Bioethanol Plant: Green Energy From Bamboo

The newly inaugurated bioethanol plant will produce ethanol from bamboo, marking a significant step toward alternative fuels and rural income generation. Ethanol is a clean-burning fuel that helps reduce carbon emissions and dependency on imported oil.

Key highlights

• The plant will utilize locally grown bamboo, with arrangements in place to support and procure from local farmers.
• Small bamboo-chipping units will be established to streamline supply.
• The project is expected to inject approximately ₹200 crore annually into the local economy.
• It will create direct and indirect employment for thousands of people, especially from tribal communities.

Also recalled past restrictions that penalized bamboo harvesting, stating that such colonial-era laws have now been abolished, empowering tribal livelihoods and rural industry.

Polypropylene Unit: Supporting ‘Make in Assam’

The polypropylene plant, for which the foundation was laid, will enable the production of essential plastic-based materials used across industries,

• Household items: buckets, chairs, packaging materials
• Industrial goods: ropes, bags, fibers
• Medical & automotive: masks, kits, car components

The plant is expected to drive industrial growth, boost ‘Make in Assam’ and ‘Make in India’, and create new opportunities in manufacturing.