Engineers India (EIL) has achieved the mechanical completion of the Assam biorefinery project, a pioneering initiative to produce ethanol from bamboo and other lignocellulosic feedstocks.

Located in Numaligarh, Assam, this project is India’s first bamboo-based ethanol facility and marks a significant milestone in advancing the country’s clean energy and sustainable fuel goals. Developed as a joint venture between Numaligarh Refinery (NRL), Finnish clean energy company Fortum, technology provider Chempolis Oy, and EIL as the EPC consultant, the refinery is designed to produce 49,000 tonne of ethanol annually.

The project uses 2.5 lakh tonne of locally sourced bamboo, benefiting local farmers and supporting the regional agro-economy. Employing Chempolis’ patented biorefining technology, it is expected to generate over 500 direct and indirect employemnt, while reducing carbon emissions through biofuel adoption. The Assam biorefinery aligns with India’s National Policy on Biofuels (2018) and the government’s target to achieve 20 percent ethanol blending with petrol by 2025, reinforcing the nation’s transition toward greener energy solutions.