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India's pioneering bamboo biorefinery launches in March

2023-10-11

Bhaskar Phukan, Managing Director, India's Numaligarh Refinery (NRL), announced that the company, a subsidiary of explorer Oil India, plans to commence ethanol production at its biorefinery in the northeastern state of Assam starting from March. India, the world's third-largest consumer and importer of oil, aims to reduce its crude oil consumption by transitioning to sustainable alternatives like biofuels. The country has set a goal to double the blending of ethanol with gasoline to 20% by 2025.

The Assam biorefinery, a project that cost NRL and its Finnish partners Chempolis and Fortum Rs 40 billion, stands as India's pioneering initiative to utilise bamboo as feedstock. It is anticipated to produce 50,000 tonne of ethanol, 16,000 tonne of furfural, and 11,000 tonne of acetic acid annually. Furfural, a substance used for binding components such as adhesive, plays a significant role in this innovative endeavour. India's northeastern region is abundant in bamboo cultivation, making it an ideal source for this sustainable venture.

NRL holds a 50% stake in this ground breaking project, reflecting the collaborative efforts of both Indian and international partners in the pursuit of eco-friendly energy solutions.