September 15, 2025
PM Modi inaugurated Assam’s first bamboo-based bioethanol plant and laid the foundation for a polypropylene plant at NRL, Golaghat
Projects worth nearly INR 18,000 crore have been allocated to Assam across energy, connectivity and health sectors
The government will spend around INR 200 crore annually to support bamboo farming and processing, benefiting farmers and tribal communities
A INR 27,000 crore semiconductor factory is being built in Morigaon as part of India’s Semiconductor Mission, with Assam as a key hub
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that expert studies indicate India’s seas may contain significant reserves of oil and gas. He said the newly launched National Deepwater Exploration Mission will be central to tapping these resources and reducing the country’s reliance on imports.
During his visit to Assam, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Assam Bioethanol Plant and laid the foundation stone for a polypropylene plant at Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Golaghat. He said projects worth nearly ₹18,000 crore have been allocated to the state. Earlier in the day, he laid the foundation for health and connectivity projects in Darrang.
The Prime Minister stressed that India, despite being the world’s fastest-growing major economy, continues to spend lakhs of crores annually on imported oil and gas, fuelling jobs and growth overseas. He said this imbalance must change, as India pushes towards energy self-reliance through a dual strategy of domestic exploration and investment in green energy.
Highlighting renewable power, Modi recalled that a decade ago India was far behind in solar energy but now ranks among the top five globally in installed capacity. He underlined the need for alternative fuels such as ethanol, and said the newly opened bamboo-based bioethanol plant would benefit farmers and tribal communities by creating a steady market for bamboo. The government will invest about ₹200 crore annually in this sector, with bamboo chipping units to be set up locally.
The Prime Minister contrasted this with earlier times when cutting bamboo was criminalised under opposition governments, stressing that its removal as a restricted commodity has unlocked opportunities for the Northeast.
He further announced a modern polypropylene plant for Assam, describing it as a boost to “Make in Assam” and “Make in India” and a catalyst for regional manufacturing. Modi also pointed to Assam’s central role in India’s Semiconductor Mission. He noted that from bank cards and mobile phones to cars, aircraft and space missions, semiconductors underpin modern technology, and India must develop its own capacity to manufacture them.
A semiconductor factory is already under construction in Morigaon with an investment of ₹27,000 crore. The Prime Minister said Assam was chosen for this mission because of its proven potential, drawing a parallel with Assam Tea, once obscure but transformed into a global brand. He emphasised that in the new era, India’s self-reliance rests on energy and semiconductors, and Assam will be vital to both.
Source: Economic Times