Numaligarh Refinery (NRL), a subsidiary of Oil India, is set to commence ethanol production at its biorefinery in Assam, northeastern India, starting March, according to the company's managing director, Bhaskar Phukan. India, the world's third-largest consumer and importer of oil, is actively working to decrease its crude oil consumption by transitioning to sustainable alternatives like biofuels. The country aims to increase the ethanol blend in gasoline to 20% by 2025.

The Assam biorefinery, developed in collaboration with Finnish partners Chempolis and Fortum at a cost of 40 billion rupees, is pioneering the use of bamboo as feedstock in India. It is expected to annually produce 50,000 tonnes of ethanol, 16,000 tonnes of furfural, and 11,000 tonnes of acetic acid. Furfural, a key component used in adhesives, finds its source in the bamboo-rich northeastern region of India where traditional paper mills have shut down, resulting in ample bamboo availability.

NRL holds a 50% stake in this groundbreaking project. Phukan stated that once local demands are met, the company plans to obtain necessary certifications to export furfural to European markets. Additionally, NRL is exploring potential smaller-scale projects in Mizoram and Meghalaya. Phukan emphasised the significant potential for cost optimisation in future refinery ventures, although specific timelines for these new projects were not provided.

Source: ET Energy world