Ethanol plants are coming up in Assam
Guwahati: Assam is soon having a good number of ethanol plants as the State government has decided to provide all necessary support to ethanol manufacturers. The concerned companies have also expressed their willingness to commence construction of ethanol plants in Assam so that the commercial production of bio-fuel can be made possible by the middle of next year.
State chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while meeting with the promoters of seven ethanol manufacturing entities recently, welcomed their eagerness to set up their plants soon. During the meeting held at Janata Bhawan, the promoters who came forward under Assam Ethanol Production Promotion Policy 2021, apprised Sarma of their latest developments and different issues they are facing. Sarma, in presence of Union minister Rameswar Teli and State minister CM Patowary, assured them of resolving all outstanding issues facilitating expeditious implementation of the projects under the concerned policy.
It may be mentioned that ethanol is a renewable fuel made from corn and other plant materials. The most common blend of ethanol that is used in flexible fuel vehicles is E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline/petrol). India has lately aimed to achieve a 20 per cent ethanol blending (in petrol) target by 2025 from the current eight to nine per cent. Till date, Assam has attracted 16 ethanol projects worth rupees 3290 crore as a fallout of consortium of OMCs floated bids for long term ethanol procurement. To facilitate ethanol production, the industry department established a 24×7 support centre for the entities to obtain various approvals and clearance required to set up their plants.
Some of the entities have already been provided with land in industrial development parks across the State including two units in Matia, one each in Sipajhar, Dhing, Balipara and Tinsukia. The proposed annual capacity of these units is expected to be 970 kilo litres per day with planned investment of rupees 1154 crore which will generate direct employment to 1000 persons and indirect opportunities to over 4000 individuals.
