GAIL organises CBG Workshop for stakeholders

by Psu Connect
Date: 20-02-24

The Government of India has set ambitious targets to meet 50% of its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2070.

Chandigarh: Under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, GAIL (India) Limited organized a CBG Workshop here which was attended by bank officers, LOI holders, Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) producers, technology providers, representatives from World Bank, Indian Biogas Association members, Oil and Gas Marketing Companies, Haryana Renewables Energy Development Agency (HREDA), Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) and various Ministries and department representatives.

The CBG Workshop was graced by Dr Sangita M Kasture, Scientist G, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Shri Karanjit Singh, Director, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Shri Arun Kumar, Director (Gas Projects), MoP&NG and Shri Chakradhar Vishwanathrao Chimote, Assistant Commissioner (M&T), Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW).

During the CBG Workshop, Shri S N Yadav, Executive Director (CBG) GAIL and Shri Akash Bhawan, General Manager (Chandigarh Zone) were also present along with their team members at the workshop held yesterday. The Government of India has set ambitious targets to meet 50% of its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2070.

CBG has emerged as a viable green fuel alternative, aligning with these goals and benefiting all stakeholders, including farmers' income. To promote CBG as an alternative green fuel, the Government launched the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative in October 2018, aiming to establish 5,000 CBG plants. Additionally, during the budget speech of 2023, it was announced that 500 new 'waste to wealth' plants, including 200 CBG plants, will be established under the GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) scheme.

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While speaking on the occasion, Shri Arun Kumar, Director, MoP&NG highlighted the importance of CBG in achieving the target of net zero emissions by 2070 as announced by the Hon'ble Prime Minister in United Nations Climate Change conference, held in Glasgow, Scotland (U.K) COP 26. Officers from DDWS briefed about Gobardhan initiative for the convergence of various schemes of different Ministries for CBG sector and gave a presentation on the GOBARdhan portal for the awareness about a uniform platform for all CBG-related projects. MNRE officials explained about the Central Financial Assistance Scheme for the development of the CBG sector.

Assistant Commissioner, DA&FW gave a presentation on their Crop Residue Management Scheme which help in biomass aggregation and abetment of stubble burning. During the workshop SATAT initiative and CBG-CGD synchronization scheme was explained by GAIL. For the awareness of the banking community regarding evaluation of CBG projects, World Bank presented the "CBG technology kit" and Indian Biogas Association (IBA) presented on the financial modelling of CBG projects. During the workshop, various CBG technology providers like India Oil and Thermax informed about CBG production technologies and its commercial utilization.

There was an open discussion among CBG producers, bank officials, OGMCs and Government Officials to understand the challenges of this sector and to find a way forward. The workshop was followed by Sangrur RNG Private Limited CBG plant visit today where bank officials were briefed about the technical, operational and financial aspects of the CBG plant. This workshop and field visit provided bank officials and entrepreneurs with valuable insights into various aspects of CBG projects. These insights are instrumental in facilitating CBG project financing by banks, thereby driving accelerated growth within the CBG ecosystem under SATAT