Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Centre conferred the prestigious Navratna status on Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL), calling it a landmark moment for the state’s oil and gas sector.
In a post on X, Sarma said, “I am grateful to Adarniya Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji for his faith in Assam’s oil & gas sector and his guidance in taking it forward. This milestone achievement would not have been possible without the unstinted support of Hon’ble Union Minister Shri @HardeepSPuri ji.”
The Chief Minister highlighted that the upgrade reflects the central government’s continued confidence in NRL’s strategic role, especially as the company spearheads some of the Northeast’s most ambitious energy and petrochemical initiatives. Sarma has repeatedly emphasised the refinery’s importance in regional industrialisation, employment generation, and downstream economic activity, describing it as one of Assam’s most successful public-sector enterprises.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also lauded the development, posting on X that he was “delighted and proud” of NRL for earning Navratna status under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. He noted, “This recognises NRL’s strong performance and its ambitious growth path, from the ongoing NREP refinery expansion to the recently inaugurated ABEPL bamboo-based 2G bioethanol plant that is driving energy security and green growth from Assam and the North East.”
The Minister congratulated NRL, promoter Oil India Ltd, equity partner Engineers India Ltd and the Assam government, adding that the company’s steady rise reflects the Centre’s push for energy self-reliance and green-transition pathways.
The refinery’s capacity expansion under the Numaligarh Refinery Expansion Project (NREP), from 3 to 9 MMTPA, is among the largest industrial undertakings in the Northeast, encompassing investments across pipelines, petrochemicals, and logistics.
The recent commissioning of the bamboo-based 2G bioethanol plant by Assam Bio-Refinery — India’s first commercial-scale facility of its kind — has been widely regarded as a milestone in the country’s renewable fuel ecosystem. The project positions Assam as a key contributor to the national biofuel roadmap while providing a new income stream for bamboo cultivators in the region.
With the Navratna upgrade, NRL joins a select group of high-performing public-sector enterprises, gaining enhanced financial autonomy and investment flexibility — a move expected to accelerate project execution and further cement Assam’s status as an energy hub in the Northeast.
(IANS)