GAIL gets land for 300 MTD bio-CNG project in Bengaluru

The Karnataka Cabinet has given its nod to a series of significant proposals, ranging from clean energy initiatives to healthcare expansion. In an important development, the state’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil announced that the Cabinet has approved the allotment of 18 acres of land at Haralakunte village, Begur Hobli, Bengaluru South Taluk to GAIL (India) Ltd. for establishing a bio-CNG plant.

He mentioned that the capacity of GAIL bio-CNG project would be 300 metric tonnes per day (MTD). The project, allotted on a ‘Permissive Use’ basis for 25 years, has the potential to expand to 500 MTD in the future.

To facilitate the bio-CNG project of GAIL, the Revenue Department and Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd will jointly conduct a survey and hand over the land with proper maps. Meanwhile, the Urban Development Department’s Additional Chief Secretary has been empowered to address any operational or implementation challenges.

In another move, the Cabinet approved the issuance of clear guidelines to prevent the sale of spurious chemicals being marketed as bio-diesel. Patil clarified that bio-diesel derived from used cooking oil is currently supplied only for private or hotel use and is not available in retail outlets. “Since blended diesel cannot be sold in retail, the government will bring in guidelines to curb the misuse of chemicals under the garb of bio-diesel,” he said.

The Cabinet also cleared the draft notification of ‘The Bio-Diesel (B-100) Blending with High-Speed Diesel for Transportation Purposes (Licensing) Order, 2022’.

GAIL’s quest with bioenergy

GAIL has vowed to develop 25 CBG projects to fasten the green energy development in the country. It has an operational one in Ranchi. Recently, GAIL has entered into a joint venture with TruAlt Bioenergy Ltd, a biofuels producer, to accelerate the development of India’s Compressed biogas or bio-CNG sector under which In its first phase, the JV will roll out six greenfield plants, each with a capacity of 12 tonnes per day. GAIL has collaborated with VERBIO India to build bio-CNG projects utilizing agricultural residues.