IGL, SDMC to Set up CBG Production Plant in Delhi to Fuel CNG Vehicles

In a step towards developing a Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) production ecosystem in the country, Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to set up waste to energy plant in Delhi.
 
The plant will convert Municipal Solid Waste into CBG for use as fuel for running CNG-based vehicles.
 
The MoU was signed in the presence of Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs, Anil Baijal, Lt. Governor, Delhi, Mukesh Suryan, Mayor, SDMC, A.K. Jana, Managing Director, IGL, and other senior officials from Ministry, SDMC and IGL.
 
The agreement was signed as a part of the extension of the SATAT initiative (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) of the government under a synchronization scheme.
 
Speaking on the occasion, Hardeep Singh Puri said that solid waste is a big problem in the country and needs to be solved quickly. Only 14 per cent of the solid waste was processed in 2014 but in 7 years, the figure has gone up to 70 per cent due to the success of the Swacch Bharat Mission.

He said that the MoU should lead to quick implementation of the project, and became a basis for more such projects. Describing it as a small step in the right direction, Puri said that it is a win-win project for all stakeholders.

The Minister announced that there will be a regular review of the project, and the obstacles in its implementation, if any, will be sorted out.
 
Under the scheme, the government envisaged setting up 5,000 CBG plants by 2023-24 with a production target of 15 MMTPA, facilitating the creation of new employment opportunities and enhancing farmers’ income.
 
By using Municipal Solid Waste as input, this initiative involves a multi-pronged approach to reduce municipal waste on one hand and produce clean energy on the other in a sustainable manner.
 
As a part of the MoU, SDMC will provide a designated area at the identified site in Hastsal in West Zone to IGL for setting up the Biogas plant and CBG Station.
 
Besides, SDMC will also provide an assured regular supply of segregated biodegradable waste (approx. 100 TPD) to IGL for running the proposed CBG plant.
 
Further, the plant is expected to produce approx. 4,000 kg per day of CBG. However, it would not be sufficient to cater to expected vehicular demand under CNG.
 
Therefore, an integrated CBG station would be established to cater to the CNG demand of the general public as well as captive demand for SDMC vehicles, the P&NG Ministry said.

Moreover, the residual Bio-manure/organic slurry will be further value addition and would be sold in the market.
 
Meanwhile, this MoU will help in reducing natural gas imports, reduction of GHG emission, reduction in the burning of agriculture residues, remunerative income to farmers, employment generation, effective waste management, etc.