AGCL: Fueling a green revolution for sustainable progress

Joya Saikia

(The writer can be reached at joyasaikia1990@gmail.com.)

The challenge of air pollution poses a significant threat to human civilization, exacerbated by the ensuing issues of global warming and climate change that loom over our environment. The primary culprit behind this environmental dilemma is the excessive combustion of fossil fuels, prevalent in the ever-growing number of vehicles, diverse industries, and more. Fossil fuels, encompassing petrol, diesel, coal, and various petroleum products, contribute to the continuous pollution of the atmosphere with toxic emissions like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide. In response to this environmental crisis, there is a growing shift towards the use of natural gas as an alternative fuel. Despite being a fossil fuel, natural gas, rich in methane, earns its designation as a “green fuel” due to its combustion yielding significantly less pollution than other fossil fuels. Serving as a major source of thermal energy with a calorific value of approximately 9,500 kcal/Scm, natural gas is instrumental in various industries, both large and small, flourishing in South Assam.

Established on March 31, 1962, Assam Gas Company Limited stands as a trailblazer in India, pioneering the commercial supply and distribution of natural gas. Its historic journey began with the provision of natural gas to the Namrup Thermal Power Station (NTPS) of the Assam State Electricity Board at Namrup, marking a transformative moment on the 18th of September. The company, a beacon of reliability and technical efficiency, further expanded its reach by catering to the Namrup Fertiliser Plant (now Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Limited) and Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited. Beyond being a key supplier, Assam Gas Company has successfully fueled various small and large-scale natural gas-based industries in Upper Assam. The region boasts a multitude of such industries, each relying on the company’s steadfast provision of natural gas. A noteworthy impact extends to the tea sector, where more than 426 tea gardens and tea factories across districts like Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat thrive in a clean and pollution-free environment, thanks to the natural gas supplied by Assam Gas Company.

The transformative influence of this initiative echoes in the power sector, with Namrup Thermal Power Station, Lakwa Thermal Power Station, and the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited’s Bokuloni Power Station (an Assam gas-based power plant) showcasing zero air pollution and reduced production costs, all attributed to the use of natural gas from Assam Gas Company. In essence, the company’s journey unfolds as a saga of environmental responsibility and industrial empowerment.

Celebrating its 60th anniversary on March 31, 2022, Assam Gas Company stands as a beacon of excellence and identity, showcasing unparalleled capabilities. Recognised as the epitome of public sector industrial prowess in the Government of Assam, the company has not only maintained its distinction but has also contributed consistently to the government’s coffers through annual dividends, a testament to its sustained profitability.

The pride of the people of Assam resonates in the dedication and sincerity exhibited by every officer and employee within Assam Gas Company. Serving over 42,000 domestic cooking gas consumers in urban and rural areas across almost all districts of Upper Assam, along with 1,200 commercial consumers, the company’s influence is far-reaching. Looking ahead, ambitious plans include expanding coverage to 15 new towns, encompassing existing ones and their adjacent rural areas. Additionally, the goal is to reach 200,000 additional domestic cooking gas consumers in the residential areas of approximately 273 tea estates in South Assam within the next three years—an initiative already set in motion.

To facilitate this expansion, the company has introduced the Matrideep web portal, allowing new consumers to seamlessly register online for gas connections. Simultaneously, the Nambor-Golaghat-Numaligarh project, dedicated to supplying natural gas from the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited, is nearing completion. This milestone will soon translate into the provision of natural gas to approximately 60 small and large tea plantations, businesses, and domestic consumers in the area—a testament to Assam Gas Company’s commitment to growth and sustainable energy solutions.

In the landscape of contemporary business competition and the embrace of free trade policies, Assam Gas Company took a pioneering step by inaugurating the inaugural CNG Station in Assam at Chowkidingee in Dibrugarh city on August 17, 2019. This strategic move reflects the company’s commitment to diversify its business lines in response to evolving market dynamics. Undeterred by challenges, the company is currently engrossed in the establishment of 120 petrol and diesel retail outlets, strategically spanning various regions. A forward-thinking approach includes the incorporation of CNG stations and electric vehicle charging centres within these outlets, marking a progressive shift towards sustainable energy solutions. With an ambitious timeline, the goal is to complete the construction of 30 such outlets by September, an initiative that is gaining momentum with three centres already advancing swiftly. This multifaceted expansion not only aligns with market demands but also positions Assam Gas Company at the forefront of the changing landscape, ready to cater to diverse consumer needs while championing environmentally conscious practices.

In a significant stride forward, the 11th tender initiated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is set to revolutionise the gas landscape across six districts—Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Darrang, Udalguri, Sonitpur, and Biswanath Chariali—encompassed within the Geographical Area (GA) of the North Bank of the Brahmaputra. This development extends beyond borders, as it involves the supply of natural gas to North Tripura, Sipahijala, South Tripura, Unakoti, Khowai, and Dhalai under two distinct geographical areas.

For the people of Assam, this heralds positive news. Assam Gas Company is poised to provide domestic cooking gas to both urban and rural consumers in the aforementioned six districts, catering to diverse commercial consumers and numerous small and large tea plantations. A noteworthy shift from the modest 2018-19 allocation of 6.705 lakh cubic metres per day (MMSCMD) of natural gas, the company has since secured an additional 10.43 lakh cubic metres per day (MMSCMD) through various tenders and collaborations with private oil companies. The cumulative achievement now stands at an impressive 19.300 lakh cubic metres per day (MMSCMD).

Embarking on parallel projects, the company is orchestrating gas supply to the Lakwa project of Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited, facilitating gas access for over 20 tea plantations and businesses in the North Banshkandi area of Silchar, and establishing gas connections to the Jorhat area through Assam Gas Grid pipeline exchange arrangements in collaboration with Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited.

This concerted effort underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to catapult its annual revenue from Rs. 300 crore to Rs. 1,000 crore within the next three years. The ripple effect is anticipated to spark a surge in natural gas-based industries, not only in Assam but across the entire Northeast, fostering an environment where the Matrideep scheme gains wider acceptance among consumers. With a hopeful outlook, the Assam Gas Company envisions the widespread utilisation of natural gas, creating a pollution-free environment, and fostering sustainable development in the region.