Guwahati, (Assam) [India], February 26: Assam continues to be a pivotal player in India’s energy landscape, according to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who spoke at a thematic session titled ‘Unlocking Assam’s Energy Potential: Building Future-Ready Oil and Gas Infrastructure, Innovation, and Investment Aligned with Global Energy Transitions’ at Advantage Assam 2.0 in Guwahati.
The session, attended by Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, focused on Assam’s strategic role in the oil and gas industry, emphasizing energy infrastructure development, innovation, and investment opportunities aligned with global energy shifts.
Chief Minister Sarma outlined Assam’s significant contribution to India’s energy sector, tracing the state’s oil industry to the late 19th century. He highlighted Assam’s vast hydrocarbon reserves, producing 12% of India’s natural gas and half of its onshore natural gas, and noted the state’s importance in the national energy supply chain. With four operational refineries and a combined refining capacity of 7.45 million metric tonnes (MMT), Assam also operates a vast retail network of 1,180 outlets and consumes 0.5 MMT of LPG annually.
Assam’s role in the petrochemical industry, with key players like Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL), Assam Petro-chemicals Limited (APL), and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), significantly contributes to the state’s economy with over Rs 11,700 crore in annual royalties and taxes.
Looking to the future, Sarma mentioned the promising horizon for Assam’s hydrocarbon sector, with expectations that crude oil availability will double by 2030 and natural gas production will increase from 3.2 to 6.3 billion cubic meters (BCM). He also emphasized the state’s growing prominence as a petrochemical hub, with major refinery capacity expansions and new projects creating both industrial growth and job opportunities.
Under the “Hydrocarbon Vision 2030,” Assam is undergoing significant infrastructural improvements. Notable projects like the Barauni-Guwahati Pipeline (BGPL) and the 1,670 km North East Gas Grid (NEGG) are enhancing regional connectivity and ensuring efficient energy distribution. The expansion of the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network with 22 CNG stations further promotes clean energy adoption.
Sarma also highlighted Oil India Limited’s commissioning of India’s first Green Hydrogen plant in Jorhat, producing 10 kilograms per day with solar power. Collaborative efforts with IIT Guwahati are advancing research into integrating green hydrogen into transportation and industrial sectors.
The Chief Minister stressed that Assam offers numerous upstream and downstream investment opportunities, particularly in the emerging energy transition sector, which includes green hydrogen, green ammonia, sustainable aviation fuels, compressed biogas, and smart chemicals.
During the session, Sarma also appealed to Union Minister Puri for assistance in expanding the capacity of Bongaigaon Refinery, further reinforcing the state’s commitment to contributing to India’s energy security.
Union Minister Puri, in his address, underscored key policy frameworks such as the Oilfield Regulation & Development Act and Open Acreage Licensing Policy, and reaffirmed the Government of India’s dedication to strengthening Assam’s energy sector, emphasizing the state’s increasing role in the nation’s energy security.
On the sidelines of the event, Chief Minister Sarma also virtually inaugurated several CNG Retail projects in Kokrajhar and Amguri.