STAFF REPORTER
Dispur, Sept 24: Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma in his push for greener future and cut carbon emission, requested Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri to allow the refineries in Assam to go ahead with 20 per cent ethanol blending in their plants. Putting forward his requests at a one-day investors’ meet on exploration and production and investment opportunities in North Eastern Region at a city hotel here today, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that if the refineries of the state are allowed to do the ethanol blending in their own plants, the proposition becomes cost effective and the state will be able to meet its own demands of green fuel from its own yard. Referring to the State government’s Ethanol Production Promotion Policy and the ethanol’s utilization in oil marketing companies, Dr. Sarma said that in the event, oil refineries are allowed for ethanol blending, there will be capacity empowerment of the companies besides enabling them to meet the demands of green energy. Dr. Sarma also requested Union Minister Puri for his ministry’s support in the capacity enhancement of Digboi Oil Refinery which has the distinction of being the first refinery in Asia and one of the oldest refineries in operation. He also requested the Union Minister for expanding the base of the gas cracker project in Assam as well as his ministry’s support for exploration of the energy sources in the state. Welcoming the Union Minister’s maiden visit to the state after assuming the portfolio of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that his government will extend all possible help to the ministry in its bid to efficient management of all its projects in Assam and starting new ones in the state. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri while speaking at the investors’ meet said that the North Eastern region of the country is one of the most promising regions of the country in terms of economic potential. He also said that in sync with the government’s commitment to make the Indian economy UDS 5 trillion, the North East has to contribute substantially. In response to the Chief Minister’s request, the Union Minister said that his ministry would do the needful for capacity enhancement of Digboi Refinery. Considering the huge reservoir of hydrocarbon reserves in the North East, Puri said the Centre will help the region in tapping the hydrocarbon resources to catalyze the growth of the North East region and improve the standard of living of the people and create a sustainable energy for the future. Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameswar Teli, ministers from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, leaders from energy companies, investors, other stakeholders, senior officers of Central and State governments were present during the plenary session.
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