Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off a major push for India’s energy self-reliance during his visit to Golaghat in Assam on Sunday. Speaking at a lively public event, he highlighted how the country has long relied on imports for crude oil and gas, sending billions of rupees abroad every year.
“We’ve been handing over lakhs of crores to foreign nations for oil and gas imports,” Modi said. “This money boosts jobs and incomes overseas, but it’s time to change that. India is now on the fast track to self-reliant energy needs.” The PM inaugurated and laid the foundation for several projects worth thousands of crores, giving a big boost to the region’s development.
In a game-changing move, Modi launched India’s first second-generation ethanol plant at Numaligarh Refinery Ltd in Assam. This bamboo-based bio refinery, a Rs 5,000 crore project, is a world first—using bamboo to produce ethanol. The PM had laid its foundation stone back in February 2019.
This is huge for Assam and the entire Northeast, where bamboo grows in plenty. The plant is zero-waste, turning every bit of bamboo into valuable products like green furfural, green acetic acid for medicines and food, food-grade CO2, and even bio-coal. Plus, it generates 25 MW of green electricity, supporting India’s net zero goals.
Modi pointed out India’s rapid strides in ethanol blending. Back in 2014, it was just 1.53 percent. By 2022, the country hit 10 percent five months early. The ambitious 20 percent E20 target, originally set for 2030, moved to 2025 and is already in place this ethanol supply year. These steps are key to reducing crude oil imports and cutting carbon emissions.
The PM also talked up India’s green energy boom. “A decade ago, we trailed in solar power, but now we’re in the global top five,” he said. Assam plays a starring role, with its petroleum products fueling national growth. “The BJP-NDA government is all in on lifting Assam’s energy strengths to new levels,” Modi added.
He announced the National Deep Water Exploration Mission to tap potential oil and gas reserves in India’s oceans. “Experts say our seas hold massive resources. From the Red Fort on August 15, I spoke about ‘Samudra Manthan’—churning the ocean for energy treasures,” Modi shared. Research is underway near shorelines too, balancing new fossil fuel finds with green power expansion.
As India races ahead as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, demands for electricity, gas, and fuel are skyrocketing. Modi’s vision ties it all together: self-reliant energy, sustainable growth, and Northeast development.
Wrapping up his two-day Assam tour, the PM thanked the crowd for their warm welcome. “The love I get in the Northeast, especially Assam, is incredible. Today marks a milestone with projects worth Rs 18,000 crore for a developed Assam and a stronger India.”
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