Modi launches India's first bamboo ethanol plant in Assam. Assam's farmers will now be anchors of India's energy security. Bharat's first bamboo to ethanol refinery has come up at Numaligarh, which will be inaugurated by Adarniya Narendra Modi-ji on September 14, marking a new dawn in Assam's industrial journey.
Modi launches India's first bamboo ethanol plant in Assam
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent the second day of his three-day tour of the Northeast and eastern states in Assam, where he launched and laid the foundation for projects worth ₹18,530 crore. The visit focused heavily on health, energy, and infrastructure development.
He started the day in Darrang district by laying the foundation for a new medical college and hospital, along with a nursing school—a combined investment of ₹570 crore aimed at strengthening healthcare in the region.
He also kicked off the long-awaited Guwahati Ring Road project, a 118-km highway that will connect parts of Assam with Meghalaya and help ease traffic around Guwahati.
Pioneering Clean Energy Initiative
Later, in Numaligarh, the Prime Minister inaugurated India’s first bamboo-based ethanol plant—a notable step in clean energy.
The facility, set up through a collaboration between Indian and Finnish companies, will use local bamboo to produce ethanol and support India’s goal of blending 20% ethanol in petrol.
It will also produce other industrial by-products and is designed to be a zero-waste operation.
Infrastructure and Industrial Expansion
Alongside this, Modi laid the foundation for a new polypropylene plant at the Numaligarh Refinery, which is expected to produce 360,000 tonnes of propylene per year and create significant local employment.
He also initiated work on a new bridge over the Brahmaputra River to improve connectivity in the area.
Regional Development Context
This visit was part of a broader tour covering five states, with a total project value of over ₹71,000 crore.
The bamboo ethanol plant alone is expected to benefit more than 3,000 local farmers who will supply bamboo, making use of the Northeast’s extensive bamboo resources.
