Guwahati (Assam) [India]: The Advantage Assam 2.0 – Investment & Infrastructure Summit 2025 hosted a key session on “Decarbonizing Energy in Assam – Present Scenario”, highlighting the state’s commitment to a sustainable, low-carbon energy future.
Held on February 26, 2025, the session brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to discuss Assam’s current energy landscape, ongoing decarbonization initiatives, and future opportunities in clean energy.
Key Participants and Discussions
The panel featured several prominent figures, including:
- Prasanta Phukan, Minister of Power, Government of Assam
- Jishnu Barua, Chairperson, CERC
- Vivek Kumar Dewangan, CMD, REC Ltd
- Kaushik Sanyal, National Head – Renewables, Tata Power Company Limited
- Dr. K.K. Dwivedi, Principal Secretary, Power Department, Government of Assam
- Syedain Abbasi, Chairman, APDCL
- Samit Mitra, Managing Director – Country Delivery, India, GEAPP
Dr. K.K. Dwivedi opened the session by emphasizing the importance of clean energy in Assam’s growth, noting significant improvements in the state’s power sector and ongoing efforts in solar energy expansion.
Syedain Abbasi highlighted Assam’s leadership in adopting solar energy, particularly in government buildings like the Assam Secretariat. He suggested utilizing unused land to further enhance renewable energy generation.
Assam’s Potential in Renewable Energy
Vivek Kumar Dewangan, CMD, REC Ltd, spoke on Assam’s potential to become a leader in renewable energy, citing solar, wind, and geothermal energy as key areas for growth. Jishnu Barua, Chairperson, CERC, outlined the national power sector scenario, stressing the need to turn challenges into opportunities for Assam’s transformation into an energy powerhouse.
Kaushik Sanyal of Tata Power highlighted Assam’s progressive clean energy policies and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to investing in the state’s power sector. He noted that pollution-related deaths in India emphasize the urgency of transitioning to clean energy.
Samit Mitra from GEAPP emphasized the importance of public-private collaborations and innovative solutions in decarbonizing Assam’s energy sector.
Government’s Vision and Future Plans
Concluding the discussion, Power Minister Prasanta Phukan reiterated Assam’s commitment to renewable energy and announced key initiatives in solar, hydro, biomass, waste-to-energy, and green energy sectors. He also outlined upcoming projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions while ensuring energy accessibility for all.
The session reaffirmed a unified vision among government bodies, industry stakeholders, and innovators to drive Assam’s clean energy transition, aligning with global climate goals.