GUWAHATI, May 13 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has urged the management of Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) to play a proactive role in promoting agro-based economy in the State and take steps for skill development of youth of neighbouring areas.
The Chief Minister made this call during a review of the Numaligarh Refinery Expansion Project (NREP) and the Bio Refinery Plant at the NRL headquarters at Numaligarh today.
Sonowal also visited the construction sites of both the projects and took stock of physical progress of the projects.
He said in the industrial landscape of Assam, NRL is playing an important role and has generated much hope for the State�s economy, especially in view of its expansion project and the biofuel plant.
�However, it is time NRL came out of its conventional area of expertise and focused on promotion of agro-economic fundamentals in the State,� he said, adding that the bamboo-based ethanol plant is a big opportunity for the company to venture into the field of agro-economy by engaging maximum number of local people in bamboo production.
He observed that the new bamboo and cane policy of the State government would significantly help the NRL and local farmers in this regard.
The Chief Minister said the NRL with its wide resources should also give a thought to strengthen the local economy, including setting up cold storages and providing succour to the horticulturists who suffered huge loss during the lockdown.
Sonowal said concentrating on developing skilled manpower that could be a strong force to catapult industrial growth in the State should also constitute a core area of importance of the NRL.
NRL MD SK Baruah informed the Chief Minister that the Rs 22,594 crore expansion project that will enhance the refinery�s capacity from 3 MMTPA to 9 MMTPA would be completed in 48 months. Moreover, consultancy job has been awarded and 200 acres land taken on lease at Paradip port in Odisha for laying a crude oil pipeline connecting Numaligarh.
Baruah further said that the bio refinery plant which is being executed with a project cost of Rs 1,750 crore will use 5 lakh MT bamboo per annum as raw material and produce 49,000 MT ethanol per annum as main product. The plant is scheduled to be commissioned by December 2021.
