Numaligarh Refinery (NRL), NTPC partner to develop ‘Advanced Biofuels’

Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) and NTPC have partnered to propel the advancement of biofuels in the country. An MoU was inked in New Delhi between NRL and NTPC in the presence of key figures including Gurdeep Singh, CMD of NTPC, Dr. Ranjit Rath, Chairman of NRL and other top officials.

The official statement held that this collaboration signifies a momentous stride towards leveraging cutting-edge refining techniques of NRL and robust energy production capabilities of NTPC. This will chart a course towards a sustainable and self-sufficient energy landscape for India.

NRL is actively expanding its refinery capacity in alignment with India’s net-zero targets, channeling investments into eco-friendly ventures. These include as bamboo-based 2G-ethanol, high-value chemicals, and a green hydrogen plant.

Through its joint venture, Assam Bio Refinery Pvt. Ltd. (ABRPL), NRL, alongside international partners, is pioneering the production of 2G-ethanol and high-value chemicals from bamboo. The establishment of a 186 KL per day ethanol plant, facilitated by NRL through ABRPL, marks a groundbreaking endeavor in advanced biofuel technology, heralding the production of 2G ethanol from bamboo, a non-food-grade raw material, for the first time.

Simultaneously, NTPC is engaged in a feasibility study for a bamboo-based bio-refinery at NTPC Bongaigaon, with intentions to integrate the green coal produced from the refinery into its power generation processes.

The new agreement underscores the commitment of both NRL and NTPC to exchange insights garnered from their initiatives, particularly ABRPL, and explore collaborative avenues, including joint ventures or consortium partnerships for bamboo-based bio-refineries and other sustainable projects.

The MoU is a non-binding framework for NRL and NTPC to partake in collaborative endeavors, establishing a joint committee to assess project feasibility. The document delineates expenditure responsibilities, provisions for amendments, restrictions on assignment, with a stipulated duration of three years, extendable or reducible by mutual consent.

Overall, the agreement lays the groundwork for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the exploration of mutual business prospects between NTPC and NRL.