‘CBG on roll’ – Hardeep Singh Puri brings out the report card

The Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri has held that the CBG sector of the country is rapidly advancing and turning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Waste to Wealth vision into reality.

Puri held that under the SATAT scheme, the government has approved 1,076 biogas projects approved.  Out of these, 100 CBG plants have been operationalised today that are producing around 700 tonnes on daily basis. Moreover, 80 CBG plants under construction and are expected to add 600 tonnes/day when put to operations.

The Minister also held that today, biogas is being sold at more than 315 retail outlets. It is being supplied through 61 city gas networks across the country. In Financial Year 2024-25, more than 42,800 tonnes of CBG has been procured by OMCs.

For the strengthening of the CBG sector, the policy measures by the government are playing an important role. The government has allocated Rs 994.5 crore for pipeline infrastructure development and Rs 564.75 Cr have been invested to support biomass machines, covering up to 50% of costs or Rs 90 Lakh per machine. The Centre targets 5% CBG in the energy mix by FY 2028-29.

Puri said that the minimum assured price is ₹54/kg + GST to encourage producers. Also, Rs 10,000 crore investment is promised under GOBARdhan Scheme for the development of 500 new waste-to-energy plants.

“This initiative is more than clean energy – it empowers rural economies & promotes a circular economy for a sustainable & bright future for India,” said Puri on the present state of the CBG sector.

To strengthen the green fuel ecosystem, the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has raised the procurement price of compressed biogas (CBG) to Rs 1,478 per million British thermal unit (mmBtu), up from the earlier rate of Rs 1,380. The procurement on new price will be done starting June 1, 2025.