World Biogas Association INDIA Congress-2026 kicks off in New Delhi

The World Biogas Association INDIA Congress – 2026 opened in New Delhi, bringing together policymakers, investors, technology providers and biogas industry leaders from India and abroad for a two-day discussion on the country’s expanding biogas and compressed biogas (CBG) ecosystem.

The event comes at a significant time for India’s bioenergy sector, following the launch of the GOBARdhan Scheme, which is expected to provide a broader policy framework for converting agricultural residues, animal waste and other organic feedstocks into biogas, CBG and bio-manure.

World Biogas Association CEO Charlotte Morton welcomed delegates and said the Congress would address critical aspects of the CBG industry, including policy, investment, technology and market development. More than 70 experts are participating in the event, with delegates from Europe, the US and Japan bringing international experience to a market that has access to large and diverse biomass resources.

At the inaugural session, Alok Tripathi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), said the CBG sector could contribute to replacing 15–20% of India’s gas imports by making greater use of agricultural waste and industrial by-products.

Tripathi acknowledged that CBG remains a “risky business”, but said the GOBARdhan Scheme could act as a central pillar of the ecosystem by addressing challenges related to feedstock supply chains and other operational constraints.

He also stressed that CBG should not be viewed only as a gas-producing industry. According to him, equal attention needs to be given to the production and utilisation of bio-manure, which can strengthen the economics and circularity of biogas projects.

The Joint Secretary further called for stronger participation from state governments to reduce uncertainties at the local level and create a more supportive environment for the growth of the biogas industry.

Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman and Managing Director of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), highlighted India’s enormous feedstock potential, backed by the country’s large livestock population and the availability of organic waste in rural households.

Shah said India should also look beyond large-scale projects and promote medium-sized biogas plants at the community and gaushala levels. Such facilities, he noted, could serve nearby villages while creating localised systems for waste management, energy generation and bio-fertiliser production.

He also underlined the importance of India-Japan cooperation in converting the country’s vast biomass resources into green energy.

The Congress has brought together stakeholders across the value chain, including project developers, technology companies, policymakers and investors. Among the key participants are Shishir Priyadarshi, President of CRF; Atul Mulay, President of Praj Industries; Ashish Kumar, MD of Verbio India; Rasmus Alex Wendt from the Embassy of Denmark; Sanjay Ganjoo, DG of IFGE; Toyofuku Kenichiro, Director of Maruti Suzuki India; Atul Kharate, CEO of IOAV; and Varun Karad, CEO of REnergy Dynamics.

With two days of policy discussions, investment insights, technology updates and networking, the Congress is positioning itself as a major international platform for shaping the next phase of India’s biogas and biomethane growth.