CM Sarma requests Union Minister’s help in capacity expansion of Bongaigaon Refinery Ltd.

CM attends session on exploring potential of Assam’s energy sector in presence of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri

Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday attended a thematic session on “Unlocking Assam’s Energy Potential: Building Future-Ready Oil and Gas Infrastructure, Innovation, and Investment Aligned with Global Energy Transitions” in presence of Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri at Advantage Assam 2.0. This session dwelled upon Assam’s strategic initiatives in the oil and gas sector with special focuson energy infrastructure development, innovation, and investment opportunities in tandem with global energy shifts.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said Assam has played a pioneering role in the forward march of India’s oil industry which gained momentum in the late 19th century. Assam remains a key player in India’s energy sector, with vast hydrocarbon reserves and a skilled workforce, the Chief Minister added. The State’s oil and gas potential extending to neighboring regions served as a stimulus for development of the state. Highlighting Assam’s position in India’s energy map, he said that the state contains 12% of the country’s natural gas reserves and produces half of India’s onshore natural gas. With four operational refineries and a combined refining capacity of 7.45 million metric tonnes (MMT), Assam ensures a consistent supply of energy to fuel the nation, the Chief Minister remarked. The State’s retail network includes 1,180 outlets, and its annual LPG consumption stands at a significant 0.5 MMT. Major players in the petrochemical sector, such as Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL), Assam Petro-chemicals Limited (APL), and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), also contribute substantially to state revenues, with royalties and taxes amounting to over INR 11,700 crore annually.

Stating that the horizon for Assam’s hydrocarbon sector is promising, he said that by 2030, crude oil availability is projected to double, and natural gas production is set to increase from 3.2 to 6.3 billion cubic meters (BCM).

He also spoke about developments in BCPL and NRL and capacity expansion of the refineries that signify Assam’s emergence as a petrochemical hub, fostering both industrial growth and job creation. The Chief Minister said that under the visionary “Hydrocarbon Vision 2030,” Assam is witnessing significant infrastructural advancements. Projects like the Barauni-Guwahati Pipeline (BGPL) is connecting Assam to the national gas grid and the 1,670 km North East Gas Grid (NEGG) is promoting regional connectivity, ensuring seamless energy distribution. The City Gas Distribution (CGD) network is expanding rapidly, with 22 CNG stations across the state, promoting clean energy adoption among citizens, he added.

Chief Minister Dr. Sarma stated that Oil India Limited (OIL) has commissioned India’s first Green Hydrogen plant in Jorhat, producing 10 kilograms per day using solar power. Moreover, collaborative efforts between IIT Guwahati and OIL are furthering research in this field, with plans to integrate green hydrogen into transportation and industrial sectors. He said that Assam presents a wealth of upstream and downstream investment opportunities. The energy transition space is equally promising, with avenues in green hydrogen, green ammonia, sustainable aviation fuels, compressed biogas and smart chemicals.

He also said that Union Minister for Petroleum Hardeep Singh Puri’s presence in Advantage Assam 2.0 and his enriching observation in unlocking the energy potential of Assam would augur well for the energy sufficiency of Assam and embolden the state in its contribution to Viksit Bharat. The Chief Minister on the occasion also requested the Union Ministerto lend his help in the capacity expansion of Bongaigaon Refinery.

The Chief Minister on the sideline of session also virtually inaugurated a number of CNG Retail projects in Kokrajhar and Amguri.

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri,speaking at the session, shed light on key policy frameworks such as the Oilfield Regulation & Development Act and Open Acreage Licensing Policy. He also reaffirmed Government of India’s commitment in further boosting the state’s energy sector.He further exuded confidence that Assam would play a bigger role in the country’s energy security framework.

An engaging discussion, held as part of the session, featured industry experts, researchers who deliberated on Assam’s evolving role in India’s energy roadmap including topics on new and renewable energy, technological innovations, and infrastructure development in the region. The panel discussion moderated by MD & Partner, Boston Consulting Group, Kaustubh Verma was attended by Oil India Limited CMD Dr. Ranjit Rath, Numaligarh Refinery Limited MD Bhaskar Jyoti Phukan, Cairn Vedanta’sHead of ExplorationDr. Stephen Sam Algar, Matheson Hydrogen Pvt Ltd’s Director and Country HeadSaugata Ghoshand Adani Total Gas Ltd (ATGL) CEO Suresh Manglani.

Kaushik Rai, the Minister of Mines & Minerals Department, Government of Assam delivered the welcome address.