Bathinda: Punjab is set to see a sharp expansion in biomass pelletisation capacity as 72 new small-scale units are being established to convert paddy residue into pellets for use as an industrial fuel, amid efforts by the Centre and state government to curb stubble burning, Hindustan Times reported.
According to Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials, 72 entrepreneurs have registered with the state government to establish pelletisation units, nearly matching the 74 units currently operational across the state.
The upcoming units are expected to have the capacity to process around 22 lakh tonnes of paddy residue, compared with 19 lakh tonnes currently handled by operational units.
The Malwa region, particularly Bathinda and neighbouring districts, has emerged as a major area of interest for entrepreneurs looking to establish facilities that convert paddy straw into fuel pellets.
Punjab introduced pelletisation as an ex-situ solution in 2023, when five units were initially established to address the problem of burning non-basmati paddy residue.
PPCB nodal officer for pelletisation projects Sukhdev Singh said 74 units were now operational across 20 districts, while the 72 new projects were at different stages of approval and installation.
He attributed the growing interest to financial support provided by the Centre. Under the scheme, entrepreneurs receive a 40% financial grant, contribute another 40% from their own resources and arrange the remaining 20% through an institution.
“The increase in the number of pelletisation units in the last four years indicates that entrepreneurs are responding to the initiative because biomass has a wide market as a fuel,” Singh said.
He added that PPCB had directed coal-based thermal power plants in Punjab to procure biomass pellets and briquettes produced by entrepreneurs in the state.
Six to seven of the new units are expected to become operational by December, while work on the remaining projects is progressing.
Sangrur has the highest number of proposed projects at 12, followed by Muktsar with 10. Ludhiana has seven proposed units, while six projects are expected to come up in Barnala.
Entrepreneurs have proposed projects in 18 of Punjab’s 23 districts. Among existing facilities, Mansa has the highest number with 18 units, followed by Bathinda with seven. Sangrur and Patiala have seven operational units each.
Sandeep Dhillon, who has been operating a pelletisation unit at Kota Fatta village in Bathinda since 2023, said he was preparing to supply pellets to thermal power plants for the fourth consecutive year.
He said the small-scale pelletisation sector could make a significant contribution to paddy biomass management if more industries were encouraged or directed to use biomass pellets as fuel.
