Panaji: In a major step to curb open dumping and burning of agricultural and garden waste, the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) has launched a new initiative to connect panchayats and plantation owners with industries to convert biomass waste into solid biofuels. The project aims to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy use in the state, reports The Times of India.
GEDA recently held a joint meeting with engineers from the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC), sarpanchs and panchayat secretaries to streamline the collection of plantation and garden waste. Officials from the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC), Bardez and Tiswadi block development offices, and industry representatives also attended.
At the core of the initiative is a 40-tonne-per-day biomass briquette manufacturing plant located in Saligao. Operated by Punjab Renewable Energy Systems Pvt Ltd (PRESPL), the plant currently produces 10–15 tonnes of biomass briquettes daily. GEDA has also launched a digital marketplace called e-Indhan to support biomass and biofuel trading in the state.
“This project will replace fossil fuels with biomass briquettes and is the first of its kind in Goa,” said a GEDA official. “We are counting on CCP, MMC, and the panchayats to ensure a regular supply of biomass waste to the facility.”
However, during the meeting, some representatives, including those from Taliegao panchayat and MMC, raised concerns over the lack of space for storing biomass and the difficulty in transporting it to Saligao. Other panchayats shared similar logistical challenges.
To address these issues, it was decided that a representative from the biofuel circle would visit CCP, MMC, and all involved panchayats over the next two weeks to assess daily biomass waste generation, its type, and feasibility for installing shredder or chipper machines. Solutions for transportation and logistics will also be discussed, and all contributors will be registered on the e-Indhan portal.
The portal will serve as a platform to connect waste suppliers with industrial users of biomass briquettes. Industries will be required to register and report their biofuel demand as well as current procurement levels to GEDA.
“Every tonne of waste converted into energy is a step closer to building a cleaner, greener, and more self-reliant Goa,” the official said.
