Numaligarh Refinery Limited’s (NRL) bamboo-based bioethanol plant has reached a major technological milestone by successfully producing 99.7% purified ethanol, marking a significant breakthrough in second-generation (2G) ethanol production. The facility, which converts bamboo biomass into ethanol, is the first of its kind in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the plant on September 14 during his visit to Assam. The Numaligarh-based facility has been developed by Assam Bio Ethanol Pvt Ltd (ABEPL), a joint venture promoted by NRL. The plant is designed to process 300,000 tons of bamboo annually to produce approximately 50,000 tons of fuel-grade ethanol, along with valuable co-products such as furfural, acetic acid, bio-coal, and green energy.
Touted as a transformative project for Northeast India, the plant is expected to benefit over 50,000 people involved in the bamboo supply chain. Officials highlight that the facility is self-sufficient in power, generating 25 MW of captive power, and is built as a zero-waste operation.
Beyond its regional impact, the plant is a strategic initiative aligned with India’s E20 ethanol blending program and is also seen as a key anchor for Japan’s clean energy footprint in the Northeast. The project stands out as a pioneering model in sustainable energy and biofuel innovation.
