Himanta Biswa Sarma, the current Chief Minister of Assam in India,  laid the foundation stone of Adani Power Limited's 3,200 MW ultra-supercritical thermal power project at Chapar in Dhubri district on September 20, marking a major development in Assam's power sector.

The project is estimated to cost around Rs 48,000 crore and is described as one of the largest single investments in Assam's industrial sector. It is expected to increase the State's power generation capacity and create employment for around 25,000 people during construction and approximately 5,000 permanent jobs once fully operational.

Sarma said the greenfield coal-based thermal project, one of the largest in the Northeast, signals Assam's emerging industrial potential and lays a foundation for the future development of the State's power sector. According to him, the project will help meet growing power requirements and ensure reliable electricity supply for industries and investments.

The Chief Minister said Assam's electricity demand has increased substantially over the last decade due to rapid industrial expansion, rising domestic consumption, electrification of remote areas and railway electrification.

He cited major industrial projects: Numaligarh Refinery alone requires 400 MW, while the Ammonia Urea project at Namrup and the semiconductor project at Jagiroad would each require around 150 MW.

Assam's current peak electricity demand is 3,026 MW. While the country's average annual growth in electricity consumption is around 6%, Assam has recorded around 10%. If this trend continues, the State's daily power requirement is expected to reach around 5,500 MW by 2030.

Against the daily requirement of 3,026 MW, Assam currently generates only around 400 MW and purchases the remaining power from other States. Once the Chapar project becomes operational, the State's dependence on outside power will be substantially reduced.

Sarma added that, given the pace of demand growth, Assam would require two more projects of a similar scale by 2035.

The Chapar project is scheduled to become operational in phases from December 2030. In the first phase, it will generate 800 MW, followed by 1,600 MW in 2031. The project is expected to reach its full capacity of 3,200 MW by December 2032.

Sarma said that if power projects of at least 800 MW had been established in Assam at regular intervals in the past, the State would not have had to depend so heavily on purchased power.

He said the State Government is taking measures to meet growing electricity demand, including steps to establish pumped storage projects so that solar energy generated during the day can be stored for use at night. Plans are also underway for several power projects in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts.