On Monday, Oil India Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to establish a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in the state capital, designed to process 200 tonnes of segregated municipal solid waste, reported The New Indian Express.
In addition, the central public sector undertaking (PSU) will assist the state government in setting up CBG plants in seven other locations across Odisha.
Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra described the move as a significant step towards improving Bhubaneswar. “The gas produced at the plant will be used as fuel for transportation and in other sectors, while the compost generated will benefit agriculture,” he noted.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had emphasized the importance of expanding such projects across the state and assured full support in this regard, Mahapatra added. “An eight-acre plot has already been allocated for the Bhubaneswar project, and Oil India will assist the state in setting up similar plants in Puri, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Sonepur, and Berhampur. The company has already initiated steps, and the detailed project report (DPR) is under preparation,” Mahapatra stated.
While the plant in Bhubaneswar is expected to be commissioned within two years, the minister urged authorities to accelerate progress and complete it ahead of schedule.
Officials explained that the plant, with a daily processing capacity of 200 tonnes, will initially produce 10 to 15 tonnes of biomethane gas per day, with the potential for expansion to 300 tonnes per day. The project will require an investment of around Rs 150 crore.
“Once operational, the plant will significantly improve waste management in Bhubaneswar. It will ensure proper handling of harmful waste, optimizing its use and supporting the country’s net zero emissions target,” said H&UD Secretary Usha Padhee.
Municipal Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil noted that Oil India would handle the commissioning and operational management of the plant. “The issues at the temporary transit station will be substantially reduced once the plant is operational,” he added.
Oil India CMD Ranjit Rath explained that the CBG plant would process municipal waste into two main products: green gas and green manure. “We have received assurance from the civic body that segregated municipal waste will be made available for processing at the plant,” Rath confirmed.
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