Kerala government gives nod for CBG project at Njeliyanparamba

The Kerala State Government has given the green light for the development of a Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant at Njeliyanparamba. The project is aimed at promoting scientific waste management and furthering the sustainability objectives of the southern state.

The proposal, initially introduced four months ago, has now received official approval. The cost of the CBG plant will be Rs 99 crore and it will be developed by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).

As pe the reports, the project is expected to be completed within two years. As part of the agreement, the Kozhikode Corporation has agreed to lease approximately eight acres of land to BPCL for a nominal annual rent of Rs 1,000 for a period of 20 years. During this time, BPCL will have full operational control of the CBG facility.

The proposed plant will be capable of processing 150 tonnes of organic waste daily, yielding around six tonnes of compressed biogas and 25 tonnes of organic fertilizer per day. The site already hosts an organic waste management unit that currently produces organic manure.

Previously, a waste-to-energy project by Zonta Infratech was cancelled as the company failed to carry out even basic tasks such as biomining and capping, despite a four-year timeline.

CBG is a form of renewable energy produced from organic waste. It offers a clean alternative to compressed natural gas and can be used to power vehicles, industries, and commercial operations. The process involves converting organic waste—including plant and animal residue—into biogas, which is then purified and compressed into CBG.

BPCL is already developing a CBG plant in Brahmapuram, Kochi, to handle 150 metric tonnes of waste daily. Recently, state’s Local Self-Government Minister MB Rajesh held that similar CBG plants will come up in Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Kollam, Kannur, and Changanassery that would enhance scientific waste management. BPCL Kochi Refinery will oversee the construction of these plants.