Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Biofuel Development Authority (CBDA) has signed an agreement with GAIL (India) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) to produce compressed biogas (CBG) from urban solid waste in six municipal corporations across the state.

State government officials have highlighted the significant potential for producing biofuel like CBG from urban solid waste under the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation scheme in Chhattisgarh. To harness this potential, the CBDA, GAIL, and BPCL entered into a tripartite agreement to set up CBG plants in Ambikapur, Raigarh, Korba, Bilaspur, Rajnandgaon, and Dhamtari.

As part of the agreement, GAIL will establish plants in Ambikapur, Raigarh, and Korba, while BPCL will develop facilities in Bilaspur, Dhamtari, and Rajnandgaon. These plants are expected to process approximately 350 metric tonnes of solid waste daily, along with nearly 500 metric tonnes of surplus biomass from these municipal corporations, to produce around 70 metric tonnes of CBG per day.

The initiative involves an investment of approximately ₹600 crore by GAIL and BPCL. Additionally, the state is expected to generate about ₹6 crore annually in goods and services tax from the production and sale of biogas from these plants.

The project will also promote organic farming by utilising co-products generated during the biogas production process. It aims to address waste disposal challenges, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support Chhattisgarh's progress towards achieving net zero emissions.

BI Bureau