Guwahati: In the wake of Assam's aggressive economic growth of 19 per cent, Sazzad Alam, ACS, Joint Secretary of Industries, Commerce & Public Enterprise Departments, has urged for an immediate transition towards sustainable and integrated energy solutions to drive the state's accelerated industrial and infrastructural growth.
At the recently held Northeast Business Conclave 2.0 in Guwahati, Alam highlighted that Assam is at a crossroads, where development without shifting to clean energy would gravely affect the environment and people's health.
"Energy is the very wheel on which development runs — but the question is, what sort of energy are we going to use?" stated Alam, pinning hope for the state's industrial future on natural gas, biofuels, compressed biogas, and solar energy.
Alam highlighted the natural gas shift of strategy, citing its position as a foundation for industrial, household, and transportation energy requirements in Assam. He pointed out that although it is a net importer of natural gas, Assam is in the process of developing its own indigenous production facilities at a very fast pace, with recent discoveries of yet untapped reserves of gas below impermeable layers, portending self-sufficiency and export possibilities in the near future.
* The Barauni-Guwahati pipeline by GAIL and the Northeast Gas Grid, a Joint Venture led by Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL) — a consortium of five major oil PSUs — is steadily connecting Assam and Northeast to the national gas grid.
* City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks are expanding to every district of Assam, ensuring gas availability for industries and households alike.
“Assam is on the brink of a natural gas revolution, which will not only fulfil domestic demand but potentially position Assam as a net exporter of gas,” said Alam.
Drawing attention to India's commitment under COP21 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Alam discussed Assam’s growing footprint in bioethanol production:
* Currently, Assam hosts 7-8 first-generation bioethanol plants utilizing food waste and grain-based feedstock.
* The upcoming Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) second-generation bioethanol plant, using non-food biomass as feedstock, is poised to be a game changer.
* Plans are underway to tap municipal solid waste as feedstock for bioethanol production, aligning with waste-to-energy goals.
India targets a 30 per cent blending mandate of ethanol in petrol compared with the existing 20 per cent. "Assam can emerge as the hub of bioethanol production in India," stressed Alam.
Assam is also promoting compressed biogas (CBG) through the Assam Bioethanol Production Promotion Policy and is exploring a dedicated biogas policy. Alam highlighted the potential of village-level biogas plants, which could operate independently or be integrated into the national grid, aligning with Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) norms.
Alam said besides PSUs like ONGC and Oil India Ltd., private operators like Vedanta Ltd. and OilMax Energy have pledged huge investments under the Advantage Assam 2.0 program, proving industry optimism in Assam's energy sector.
Alam acknowledged that transitioning from coal and conventional fossil fuels to cleaner alternatives will require overcoming public inertia and substantial infrastructure overhauls. “We need a hybrid energy model initially, with strong public advocacy to encourage acceptance of cleaner fuels like natural gas,” said Alam.
Referring to the recent Dima Hasao illegal coal mining tragedy, Alam stressed the urgent need to move away from coal, noting ongoing efforts to convince tea estates to switch from coal to natural gas with support from industry associations like NETF (North East Tea Federation).
Alam also spoke about Assam’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy and the state’s growing focus on solar energy investments aimed at diversifying Assam’s clean energy mix. "The combined effect of gas, biofuels, EVs, and solar can redefine Assam’s energy landscape," noted Alam.
He stressed that sustaining Assam’s 19 per cent economic growth while preserving its famed greenery and biodiversity will depend on embracing cleaner energy alternatives. “If Assam is to become a developed state, we must ensure that our development is green and sustainable,” urged Alam towards the end of his speech at the Northeast Business Conclave 2.0.
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