Assam’s mineral reserves to meet requirements for 100 years!

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The estimated reserves of mineral resources lying underneath Assam are adequate to meet the state's requirements for the next 100 years. The resources form a huge and solid base for the development of mineral-based industries in the state.

According to the statistics of the state Department of Mines and Minerals, the Sivasagar, Jorhat, Cachar, Golaghat, Karimganj, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Kamrup, Goalpara, Morigaon, Dhubri, Nagaon, and Baksa districts have huge mineral reserves underneath. The department claims that the estimated reserves of minerals in the state are enough to meet the requirements of the state for the next 100 years.

According to the estimation of the department, the state has 200 million MT of crude oil, 1.02 lakh million cubic metre of natural gas, 320 million MT of coal, 605 million MT of limestone, one million MT of China clay, 10 million MT of iron ore, 150 million MT of glass sand, 346 million cubic metre of granite, five million MT of quartz, 10 million MT of sandstones, 13 million MT of fuller's earth, and 0.08 million MT of sillimanite.

The state government has laid stress on the exploration of all these minerals and their proper use. Many companies have signed MoUs on the exploration of all these minerals. Oil India Ltd. (OIL) signed an MoU with the KAAC (Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council) for carrying out exploration for oil and natural gas in the Dhansiri Reserve Forest.

The revenue collection of the Department of Mines and Minerals has been on the rise in Assam because of the rise in the number of mineral-based industries. In 2018-19, the department earned revenue amounting to Rs 2,562 crore and Rs 3,173 crore in 2023-24.

Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao are rich in limestone, granite, China clay, sillimanite, sandstones, quartz, etc. While fuller's earth is available in the Baksa district, glass sand is found only in Nagaon, and iron ore is present in Dhubri and Goalpara districts. The upper Assam districts mainly have crude oil and natural gas. Cachar and Karimganj districts also have some areas that have the possibility of oil and natural gas reserves.

Also Read: Kothari Industrial Corporation Signs Rs. 500 Crore MoU With Assam For Mineral And Ore Projects

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