Assam, September 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated a bioethanol plant and laid the foundation stone for a polypropylene unit at Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Assam, underscoring the state’s growing role in India’s push for clean energy and industrial growth.
The projects, part of investments worth about ₹18,000 crore ($2.16 billion) allocated to Assam, are aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels, boosting local industry and creating new opportunities for farmers and youth, Modi said at the ceremony in Golaghat.
“India has embarked on the path of becoming self-reliant in meeting its energy needs,” Modi said, highlighting that the new plant will produce ethanol from bamboo and generate steady demand for local cultivation. The government expects about ₹200 crore ($24 million) to be spent annually in the bamboo-based ethanol sector, benefiting thousands of families.
The prime minister also laid the foundation for a polypropylene plant, a raw material widely used in plastics, textiles, medical kits, automobiles and packaging. The project is expected to strengthen the petrochemical sector and give a fillip to manufacturing in the region under the “Make in India” initiative.
“Assam is a land that strengthens India’s energy capabilities. We are constantly strengthening Assam’s identity,” Modi said, adding that the state will play a key role in both the energy transition and India’s semiconductor mission. A ₹27,000 crore ($3.25 billion) semiconductor factory is already under construction in Morigaon district.
India, the world’s fastest-growing major economy, remains heavily dependent on crude oil imports. Modi said the government is exploring new reserves while also investing in renewables. India now ranks among the world’s top five nations in solar energy capacity, he added.
The event was attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Hardeep Singh Puri.
