More CBG plants coming up across State, says Minister Rajesh

Apart from Kozhikode and Kochi, five more compressed biogas (CBG) plants are being set up in different parts of the State, Minister for Local Self-Governments M.B. Rajesh has said.

He was here on Monday (July 28) to attend an event where an agreement was signed between the Kozhikode Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. to set up a CBG plant at Njeliyanparamba in the city.

Mr. Rajesh said that CBG plants would come up in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Changanassery, Thrissur, and Palakkad as well. BPCL is involved in the projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. A trial run for the Kochi plant, located at Brahmapuram, was being conducted at present. Around 150 tonnes of waste would be processed a day there. The plant could be commissioned by September this year, he said.

Mr. Rajesh said that strict action would be taken against those who dump waste in public places instead of the dust bins installed for the purpose. He claimed that CBG plants would not only make cities clean but also lead to the creation of a commercial product in the form of biogas. The agreement was signed by T.V. Anupama, Special Secretary, Department of Local Self-Governments, K.U. Bini, Corporation Secretary, and P. Anil Kumar, Executive Director, BPCL.

Minister for Public Works and Tourism P.A. Mohamed Riyas and Minister for Forests and Wildlife A.K. Saseendran, among others, were present.

The CBG plant is coming up at an eight-acre plot at Njeliyanparamba. The cost of the project is ₹99 crore. The land has been handed over to BPCL on a 25-year lease. The work is expected to be completed in 24 months. The plant will have a capacity to process 150 tonnes to 180 tonnes of biowaste a day. From this, 56 tonnes of biogas and 20-25 tonnes of bio fertiliser can be generated a day. The biogas will be sold to Gas Authority of India Ltd., and a fuel station will be set up on the premises.