The First Bamboo Ethanol Plant in India is open in Assam

India is the first country to start its own bioethanol plant based on bamboo in Golaghat, Assam, which is a big step towards clean energy as well as rural development. The plant will handle 5 lakh tonnes of bamboo per year with the sources being Assam and other northeast states which directly benefit local farmers and tribal population.

Significance

Renewable fuels like bioethanol can be incorporated in petrol to reduce consumption of fossil fuel. Bamboo is perfect in production of biofuels because of its rapid growth, it is abundant in Northeast and is rich in cellulose. This plant will pursue the green energy agenda of India and help in the achievement of self-dependency on energy production.

Policy Support

In the past bamboo was treated as a tree under Indian Forest Act, 1927, limiting the harvesting of bamboo. New legislations lifted this restriction and legal cultivation and trade followed. This has given a voice to farmers and forest communities to take advantage of the bamboo based industries.

Economic and Social Impact

• Investment in the rural economy of Assam Rs200 crore.
• Farmers and tribal groups can have new sources of income.
• Increase in Make in Assam and Make in India.
• A polypropylene plant base has also been established along with it and has increased regional production.

Production Process

The plant involves a pretreatment, fermentation, distillation, and dehydration process to transform bamboo biomass into fuel grade ethanol. This ethanol may be mixed with petrol or it is used in engines that are adjusted thereby encouraging cleaner transport fuel.

India Rush to Renewal.

India is also diversifying in biofuels with a good advancement in solar and wind. The bamboo ethanol plant presents an endeavor to integrate the energy security, environmental sustainability, and rural development.