Kerala is ramping up its efforts to promote cleaner energy with the development of five additional compressed biogas (CBG) plants, alongside ongoing projects in Kozhikode and Kochi in India, reports The Hindu.
Local Self-Governments Minister M.B. Rajesh announced the expansion during a visit to Kozhikode on 28 July, where a new partnership was formalised between Kozhikode Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL). The agreement paves the way for a new CBG facility at Njeliyanparamba.
Minister Rajesh confirmed that similar plants will be established in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Changanassery, Thrissur, and Palakkad. BPCL will also collaborate on the projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam.
In Kochi, a separate CBG plant in Brahmapuram is currently undergoing trial operations and is due to be fully operational by September. It is designed to process approximately 150 tonnes of waste per day.
The Minister highlighted the dual benefit of these facilities: improving urban sanitation while generating useful biogas. He also issued a warning against illegal dumping of waste, urging stricter compliance with designated disposal systems.
The Kozhikode facility will be developed on an eight-acre site in Njeliyanparamba, with an estimated investment of ₹99 crore. The land has been leased to BPCL for 25 years, and construction is expected to take around two years.
Once completed, the plant will handle 150–180 tonnes of organic waste per day, producing around 56 tonnes of biogas and 20–25 tonnes of bio-fertiliser daily. The gas will be supplied to the Gas Authority of India Ltd., and an on-site fuel station is also planned.
The agreement was signed by T.V. Anupama, Special Secretary for the Department of Local Self-Governments; K.U. Bini, Corporation Secretary; and P. Anil Kumar, Executive Director at BPCL.
Other attendees included P.A. Mohamed Riyas, Minister for Public Works and Tourism, and A.K. Saseendran, Minister for Forests and Wildlife.
Kerala expands biogas drive with five new CBG plants
