TARA (Technology and Action for Rural Advancement), sister organisation of the Development Alternatives Group, in association with the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), organised a state-level workshop on September 2, 2025, at Guwahati Biotech Park to explore the role of green biomass briquettes in advancing a circular economy across Assam and the North Eastern states. The event saw active participation from representatives of the APART Assam project, Assam Climate Change Management Society (ACCMS), Assam Pollution Control Board, and sector colleagues.

During the workshop, TARA shared its pioneering work on introducing green biomass briquetting units in Dhubri district, Assam. These small-scale enterprises, each capable of generating ten local jobs, produce briquettes from agricultural and other waste biomass. A single enterprise can reduce carbon emissions by approximately 1,100 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Biomass assessments indicate that Dhubri alone holds the potential for over 200 such enterprises, highlighting the region’s significant untapped opportunities.

Participants emphasised the importance of scaling this solution across Northeast India, particularly in Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, where both biomass availability and market demand are favorable. Special attention was given to the immense potential of converting millions of tonnes of tea garden waste into commercial fuels. Stakeholders suggested engaging with institutions like the Tea Board of India and Assam’s major plantation groups, including APPL (Tata Tea Limited), to drive this opportunity forward. The workshop concluded with a shared vision: accelerating agri-waste-based briquetting solutions can unlock cleaner energy, rural jobs, and climate benefits, steering Assam and the Northeast towards a greener and more circular economy.