Madurai plans bio-CNG project; tender expected within a week

As Tamil Nadu strides for aggressive renewable energy deployment in the state, now the Madurai Corporation has obtained administrative approval from the Department of Municipal Administration to establish a bio-CNG plant near the Vellaikal dumpyard.

This bio-CNG project will be part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM 2.0) and is projected to cost Rs 65 crore with promises to transform the city’s approach to wet waste disposal while boosting revenue for the corporation. The experts and civic society see it as a significant step towards sustainable waste management and renewable energy production.

As per the reports, the bio-CNG plant will utilize cutting-edge technologies to efficiently process wet waste, converting it into biogas, which will then undergo purification to produce compressed natural gas (CNG) for commercial sale. With a capacity to handle 250 metric tonnes of wet waste per day, the bio-CNG plant is anticipated to generate additional revenue through the sale of bottled CNG.

The bio-CNG project will adopt the design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) model, with tender announcements expected within a week.

The choice of the Vellaikal site for the plant was justified by safety considerations and its suitability, being enclosed by a compound wall to ensure separation from nearby residential areas. The plant will be positioned in an area where biomining has been completed and land has been reclaimed. Biomining efforts are currently ongoing in Madurai, with phase 2 underway at Vellakal, allocated a budget of 34.95 crore.

In the Madurai Corporation, daily municipal solid waste (MSW) generation averages between 750 to 800 tonnes, of which 350 tonnes comprises wet waste. While 250 tonnes of wet waste are directed to micro-composting centers, the CNG plant is expected to initially process 100 tonnes per day, with potential for increased capacity if residents appropriately segregate waste, as reported.

Recently, I Am Renew reported that the Tiruchi City Corporation, Tamil Nadu, has also been mulling to establish a Bio-CNG plant at the city’s Ariyamangalam dump yard with the aim of processing the organic degradable waste generated within the city.