OIL, NRL to set up 8 compressed bio-gas plants in Northeast

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 26, 2024

Oil India Ltd (OIL) and Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) are setting up around 8 to 10 compressed bio-gas plants in different districts of Assam and other northeastern states, OIL chairman cum managing director and NRL chairman Ranjit Rath said here on Saturday.

Addressing as the chief guest at the technical symposium on “Creating Wealth from Waste: Role of Startup and New Enterprises” organized by Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) in Guwahati on Saturday, Rath said it is a green initiative of both oil PSUs that would create wealth out of waste & address the burgeoning problem of waste management in towns and cities in the Northeast. 

“Both OIL and NRL also initiated collaboration with urban local bodies for municipal solid waste collection,” Rath said.

Rath also said the OIL Township at Duliajan is being developed as a SMART city in terms of modern living amenities including solid waste disposal and treatment, enhanced carrying capacity of drainage systems, segregation of waste at source and other best practices. 

“The legacy waste of Tinsukia is also being handled with the active support of OIL,” he said and reiterated the importance of segregation of domestic waste at its source and possible opportunities for startups in the entire scheme of activities. 

In his address, NRL managing director Bhaskar Jyoti Phukan stressed the need to create an effective ecosystem where various industries support the collective initiatives of the Pollution Control Board in finding solutions to environmental issues in terms of funding; since present revenue models are not sustainable. 

Phukan urged the young enthusiasts to hone their entrepreneurial spirit and take up Startup ideas in providing solutions to micro issues in this domain. 

Speaking on the occasion, senior IAS officer and principal secretary, Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Development, B Kalyan Chakravarthy appreciated the efforts of OIL and NRL for their sincere efforts in the field of waste-to-wealth management in the region.

Earlier, Pollution Control Board, Assam chairman Arup Kr Misra, while setting the context for the symposium impressed upon the need for collaboration amongst various stakeholders for proper waste management and encouraged young entrepreneurs to find more ways to create wealth from waste; citing examples from across the nation and the globe.