BPCL’s CBG plant in Kochi to be inaugurated by month end

The Kochi Corporation’s ambitious compressed biogas (CBG) plant at Brahmapuram is set for inauguration by the end of July 2025. The trial run at the plant is currently under way.

The status of the project was reviewed during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Kottayam. Once operational, the 150-tonne capacity plant—which will initially produce 15 tonnes of biogas daily—will significantly alleviate Kochi’s long-standing waste management challenges. The generated biogas will be supplied to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) through a dedicated pipeline.

Although the project has seen delays—it was originally scheduled for commissioning by April 2025—the final stages of development are now nearing completion. The facility has been constructed by the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Industries Development (CEID), an EPC firm based in Fazilka, Punjab.

A tripartite agreement to operate the plant has already been signed between Kochi Corporation, the Kerala State Government, and BPCL’s Kochi Refinery.

In preparation for streamlined waste collection and processing, bio-bins have been installed across all local bodies in Ernakulam district. Simultaneously, bio-mining operations at various sites are underway and progressing on a time-bound schedule.

The Brahmapuram CBG plant is envisioned as a model initiative, akin to the successful plant in Indore. During its initial phase, the plant will process 75 tonnes of biodegradable waste per day, with plans to scale up to 150 tonnes. Initially, it will handle waste generated solely within Kochi Corporation limits, which currently amounts to over 150 tonnes daily. In future phases, the facility will also cater to nearby local bodies.

Additionally, a black soldier fly (BSF)-based organic waste treatment unit is already functional at Brahmapuram, with a processing capacity of 100 tonnes per day. Operated by Fabbco Biocycle Private Limited, the unit converts biodegradable waste into bio-manure using BSF larvae. In a recent development, the company exported 80 tonnes of bio-manure to a Dubai-based vertical farming firm and supplied another 75 tonnes to the domestic market in Kerala.

Together, these initiatives mark a significant stride towards sustainable waste management and renewable energy generation in the Kochi region.