Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 September 2025 inaugurated India’s first bamboo based ethanol plant in Golaghat, Assam, describing it as a step towards energy security and clean energy adoption.
The ₹5,000 crore facility, developed as a zero waste unit, is billed as the world’s first bioethanol plant powered by green bamboo. Alongside this, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a ₹7,230 crore polypropylene plant at the Numaligarh Refinery, located near the ethanol project.
Addressing a public gathering, Mr Modi underlined the importance of self sufficiency in energy for a fast growing economy like India. “India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world now. Our energy needs have been increasing with our Viksit Bharat dream. We spend crores of rupees on imports as we are dependent on other countries for energy. We want to change this by trying to achieve self sufficiency in energy,” he said.
He noted that while India is expanding hydrocarbon exploration, it is equally focused on clean energy sources such as solar and biofuels. Referring to the Golaghat facility, he said it will help farmers and tribal communities by providing opportunities to grow and supply bamboo, creating a “win win situation.”
Mr Modi criticised previous governments for penalising bamboo cutting when it was classified as a tree. “Our government removed the ban on bamboo cutting. You all can see how this decision is helping the locals in this part of the country,” he said.
Officials from Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) explained that the plant will source five lakh tonnes of green bamboo annually from Assam and neighbouring states such as Arunachal Pradesh. It will produce 48,900 metric tonnes of ethanol, 11,000 tonnes of acetic acid, 19,000 tonnes of furfural and 31,000 metric tonnes of food grade liquid carbon dioxide every year.
The project, built in collaboration with Finland’s Fortum and Chempolis OY, is expected to contribute around ₹200 crore annually to Assam’s rural economy while also reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
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