15th September 2025 (15 Topics)
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Bamboo-Based Ethanol Plant
Context
Prime Minister inaugurated the world’s first bamboo-based ethanol plant in Golaghat, Assam, along with laying the foundation of a ?7,230 crore polypropylene project at Numaligarh Refinery.
Significance of the Plant
- World’s first zero-waste bamboo-based bioethanol plant.
- Joint venture of Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), Fortum (Finland), and Chempolis OY.
- Utilises five lakh tonnes of bamboo annually sourced from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and other Northeast states.
Production Capacity
- 48,900 tonnes ethanol, 11,000 tonnes acetic acid, 19,000 tonnes furfural, and 31,000 tonnes food-grade CO? annually.
- Strengthens the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) to reduce fossil fuel dependence and cut crude oil import bills.
Economic and Social Impact
- Expected to boost Assam’s rural economy by ?200 crore yearly.
- Generates employment for farmers and tribal communities engaged in bamboo cultivation.
- Enhances energy self-sufficiency in line with the Viksit Bharat
Policy and Legal Angle
- Bamboo, though taxonomically a grass, was earlier treated as a tree under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, restricting its felling and transport.
- The 2017 amendment reclassified bamboo as grass, enabling its wider commercial use.
Strategic Relevance
- Supports India’s targets of 20% ethanol blending by 2025 under the National Policy on Biofuels (2018, amended 2022).
- Aligns with India’s clean energy goals and energy security agenda.
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