Budaun CBG plant to produce 14 Metric tonnes of biogas per day: Petroleum Minister Hardeep S Puri

Speaking about HPCL’s Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant inaugurated in Badaun today, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs, said that this plant has a processing capacity of 100 MTPD of rice straw and can generate 14 MTPD of  CBG along with 65 MTPD of solid manure. The CBG plant at Badaun is commissioned with an investment of Rs. 133 crore (approx.) by HPCL and is spread across an area of 50 acres (approx.).

In a momentous event, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, inaugurated Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (HPCL) pioneering Biomass-based Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant in Budaun today i.e. on January 27, 2024 in the august presence of Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Rameswar Teli, State Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Labour and Employment, Govt. of India, Shri Dharmendra Kashyap,  MP, Aonla, Shri Rajeev Kumar Singh, MLA, Dataganj, Shri Mahesh Chandra Gupta, MLA, Budaun Sadar and Senior officials from MoPNG and UP Govt along with C&MD – HPCL and Senior officials from HPCL.

The Inauguration of this CBG Plant aligns with the Government of India’s emphasis on reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. As part of the National Biofuel Policy 2018, this initiative contributes to the government’s goal of reducing import dependency by 10%, with a focus on second-generation (2G) bio refineries and Compressed Bio-Gas Plants.

Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that upon stabilization of production, the CBG plant at Badaun  will help in reducing stubble burning of 17,500-20,000 acres of fields translating into an annual reduction of 55,000 tons of CO2 emissions and lead to direct employment generation of around 100 people and indirect employment generation of around 1000 people.

In the coming time, more than 100 such bio gas plants will be set up in UP, the Union Petroleum Minister added.

The Minister lauded the performance of Uttar Pradesh in various schemes of Government of India including Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Smart Cities Mission, PM SVANidhi scheme etc.

The Minister provided a snapshot of Progress of Oil and Gas Sector in Uttar Pradesh in the past 9.5 years. He highlighted the remarkable progress  witnessed by state in terms of number of petrol pumps, LPG distributors, PNG Connections, CNG Stations, LPG Connections etc.

Progress of Oil and Gas Sector in Uttar Pradesh in the past 9.5 years:

CBG Plant in Budaun:

Project Overview: The CBG Plant in Budaun, with a processing capacity of 100 Tons/day lignocellulosic biomass, is a groundbreaking initiative designed to produce approximately 14 TPD of CBG. The project includes raw materials receipt and storage, CBG process section, associated utilities, CBG cascade filling shed, and solid manure storage and bagging facility.

Social & Economic Impact: The project aims to boost farmers’ income by procuring biomass from local farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations, providing livelihood opportunities to more than 100 people.The plant will also provide direct livelihood opportunities and indirect benefits to thousands of farmers, transporters and farm laborers. Additionally, the sale of organic manure to farmers aims to enhance soil quality and crop yields, contributing to sustainable agriculture.

Unique Features: The technology for CBG production has been licensed from M/s Praj Industries Limited, Pune, and the digester’s design maximizes biogas yield. The plant incorporates a pollution-sensitive Zero Liquid Discharge design, adhering to stringent norms of the Fertilizer Control Order.

Environmental Impact: CBG, with properties similar to CNG, serves as a green, renewable automotive fuel. The project anticipates a reduction in natural gas and crude imports, decreased emissions, and a positive contribution to climate change goals and Swachh Bharat Mission.

Project Cost and Timelines: The CBG Plant was approved at a cost of Rs. 133 crore and has been completed mechanically and is currently under trial runs and process stabilization.

The plant also has first of its kind Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM) facility, unique in scale and design, to produce organic manure meeting the stringent Fertilizer Control Order norms.

Inauguration of the HPCL CBG Plant marks a significant milestone in India’s pursuit of sustainable energy solutions and aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision for a future grounded in energy access, efficiency, sustainability, and security.