Tiruchi bio-CNG plant construction to begin in October; Madurai too plans one

The Tiruchi City Corporation in Tamil Nadu is planning to set up a bio-CNG plant at the Ariyamangalam dump yard, with the capacity to process about 100 tonnes of organic waste daily. Construction is expected to begin in October.

A budget of Rs 35 crore has been allocated under the Swachh Bharat Mission for the project, with around four acres of recovered space from the dump yard being designated for the plant. The phase II of biomining has already been completed at the site. Now preliminary steps are now underway to establish the biogas plant to process organic waste such as vegetables and meat into compressed natural gas (CNG).

A tender was recently been floated within a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The plant, designed to produce biogas from residential and commercial waste, must be completed within 12 months. It will operate under the design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) model, with the contractor transferring the assets back to the city after 20 years.

The bio-CNG produced will be used for commercial purposes, including as fuel for transportation. Moreover, a material recovery facility will be established at the site to sort dry waste into recyclable, non-recyclable, inert, and refuse-derived fuel categories.

Waste management in Tiruchi has been outsourced to a private agency, covering the collection, segregation, transportation, and processing of waste in all 65 wards. On average, 400-450 tonnes of municipal solid waste are collected daily.

Madurai plans bio-CNG project at Vellaikal dump yard

Madurai Corporation is also preparing to invite bids for the construction of a bio-CNG plant near the Vellaikal dump yard by the end of September. The ₹65 crore project, part of the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, aims to promote sustainable waste management and renewable energy generation. The project is expected to process about 250 MT wet waste every day.