-On 12th March 2024, Chandigarh, India: In partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a leading Fortune 500 Maharatna Energy Conglomerate, the Ministry organized a workshop aimed at promoting the adoption of compressed biogas (CBG) as a sustainable energy solution. On March 11, 2024, at the Hotel Radisson in Bhopal, the event marked an important milestone in India’s energy transition.
A workshop organized by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG) recently brought together a mix of important players in the energy sector. Bank officials, people who already produce compressed biogas (CBG), entrepreneurs with new CBG ideas, and experts who develop the technology for making CBG were all present. Even representatives from big organizations like the World Bank, the Indian Biogas Association, and oil and gas companies joined the discussion.
The workshop, convened under the auspices of the MoP&NG, fostered constructive dialogue among a diverse array of stakeholders, including bank officials, CBG producers, entrepreneurs, technology providers, and representatives from esteemed organizations such as the World Bank, Indian Biogas Association, and Oil and Gas marketing companies. Discussions revolved around the transformative potential of CBG in India’s energy landscape, accentuating its role as a green fuel and its contribution to the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative.
The esteemed dignitaries were warmly welcomed by Shri. Pankaj Motiramani, State Head (Retail), Bhopal, while the inauguration ceremony was graced by the presence of Shri. Arun Kumar, Director (GP-II), MoP&NG, and other notable personalities. Mr. Anurag Saraogi, CGM (Biofuels) at BPCL, extended a cordial welcome to all attendees, underscoring the workshop’s significance in promoting CBG projects. Mr. Sasiprakash. R, GM Technology Biofuels, provided insights into the SATAT scheme, setting the stage for discussions.
In his welcome speech, Mr. Anurag Saraogi mentioned, “In our pursuit of a cleaner, greener future, the workshop in Bhopal, hosted by BPCL under the MoP&NG, is pivotal for the promotion of Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects. CBG stands as a beacon of hope in our quest for renewable energy sources. CBG holds immense potential to replace CNG in automotive, industrial, and commercial sectors. The abundance of biodegradable organic waste within our nation presents us with a unique opportunity to scale up the production of CBG, thereby contributing to a cleaner, greener future.”
In his keynote address, Shri. Arun Kumar, Director (GP-II), MoP&NG emphasized India’s strategic vision for sustainable energy solutions and the pivotal role of Compressed Biogas (CBG) in achieving these objectives. India imports around 85 % of crude oil and over 50% of LNG. Government has targeted to increase the share of natural gas in primary energy mix in India from current 6.5% to 15% by 2030. Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative was launched in October 2018 and is intended to create and enable vibrant eco-system for the establishment of CBG plants for production and procurement of CBG for augmenting the natural gas supply in the country. One of the major challenges in setting up CBG plants is financing the projects. He urged that the representatives of banking sectors in the workshop to help in understanding the problem faced by the CBG project proponents. He expressed that the workshop will help in understanding details of CBG projects and its techno commercial evaluation which will addressing the issues involved in financing the project.
The workshop featured presentations from various ministries, including DDWS & MNRE, as well as contributions from esteemed organizations such as the World Bank, GAIL, Canara Bank, and CBG technology providers and BPCL CRDC. These engagements facilitated fruitful discussions and knowledge exchange, aimed at accelerating the adoption of CBG as a sustainable energy source in India.
