Kochi: The commissioning of a compressed biogas plant at Brahmapuram is set to mark a major shift in waste management in Kochi. Built by state-run Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), the facility has a processing capacity of 150 tonnes per day and stands on 10 acres of land that was cleared of legacy waste nearly two years ago, The New Indian Express reported.
The project took shape in June 2023 after the Kerala High Court directed the state government to speed up steps to implement BPCL’s proposal for the unit. The court had taken up a case on its own following the Brahmapuram fire in March that year, which brought the city’s waste handling practices under scrutiny and renewed focus on scientific disposal methods.
Siby T P, Senior Manager (Operations), BPCL, said construction gathered pace after the proposal was submitted. “We began trial runs using cow dung last March, and gas generation started in January,” he said.
Raman Mallik, Head of PR and Brand at BPCL, said the plant is the first in the country to convert municipal waste into gas on this scale. The facility is linked to BPCL’s refinery through a dedicated pipeline and forms part of the company’s plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is scheduled to inaugurate the plant on Friday.
According to BPCL, waste brought to the site will be segregated before processing, with non-biodegradable material handed over to the Kochi corporation. Through compression and separation processes, the plant will produce methane for use in the refinery along with two types of biofertilisers.
Officials said such projects could help reduce India’s dependence on imported liquefied natural gas. From 2028-29, the country has also mandated a 5% blending of compressed biogas with compressed natural gas and piped natural gas, making CBG production increasingly relevant.
BPCL has held talks with Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) for the sale of fertilisers produced at the plant.
Kochi Mayor V K Minimol said operations will begin with 50 tonnes of food waste, with capacity expected to rise to 150 tonnes within three months. She added that the new CBG unit, along with two existing black soldier fly plants, would strengthen the city’s waste management system.
Former Mayor M Anilkumar recalled that the initial proposal was to build a composting facility. However, discussions later led to the idea of setting up a waste-to-energy project at the same site, which eventually resulted in the CBG plant.
With this development, Kochi has become the first city in the country to adopt a compressed biogas-based waste management system of this kind. Similar plants are expected to come up in other local bodies, positioning Kochi as a model for sustainable and scientific waste management.
