Bhubaneswar gears up for new CBG project with Nexband Renewables

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has signed an MoU with Nexband Renewables to convert vegetable waste generated across the city into compressed biogas (CBG), marking a significant step towards sustainable waste management and clean energy production.

The agreement, signed in the presence of Mayor Sulochana Das, outlines the establishment of a 150-tonne-per-day (TPD) CBG plant on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. The facility is expected to produce around 6,000 kg of automobile-grade bio-CNG daily. In addition to biofuel, the plant will generate approximately 16 TPD of solid organic fertiliser and 60 TPD of liquid organic fertiliser, supporting soil health and sustainable agriculture.

BMC deputy commissioner sanitation N Ganesh Babu held that the CBG plant will be set up at Khuntabandha in the Begunia area of Khurda district. It will utilise a mix of vegetable waste and Napier grass as feedstock. The civic body will ensure the collection and supply of vegetable waste from markets, haats, and bulk generators starting July 1, with an estimated 50 TPD available depending on seasonal variations.

Waste will be segregated at source and transported by BMC to designated collection points, including Unit-I, Unit-IV, and Damana markets, as well as the Temporary Transit Station near Sainik School. Nexband Renewables will then handle lifting, transportation, and processing at its own cost, ensuring waste is cleared within 24 hours to prevent accumulation and sanitation issues in Bhubaneswar.

The project is expected to ease pressure on the city’s waste management system by diverting biodegradable waste for scientific processing, while improving cleanliness in marketplaces. It will also create additional income opportunities for local farmers through the cultivation of Napier grass.

Earlier, BMC had partnered with Oil India Ltd to set up another 200 TPD CBG plant in Meherpalli. OIL is also supporting the government in setting up CBG plants at seven other locations in Odisha.

BMC is also developing a biogas-based captive power plant will soon be established at the Unit-I vegetable market with an initial processing capacity of 3 TPD.