NEW DELHI: India’s Union Cabinet has approved a ?23,731 crore (about $2.5 billion) national scheme to accelerate compressed biogas (CBG) production and turn agricultural and organic waste into clean energy, organic fertilizer and rural income.
The 10-year GOBARdhan National Circular Bioenergy Scheme will support the use of agricultural residues, cattle dung, press mud, municipal organic waste and other biomass resources for CBG production.
The program will provide assured offtake, stable pricing, capital assistance, pipeline connectivity and access to finance to strengthen the CBG value chain. The government expects the scheme to drive nearly ten-fold growth in domestic CBG production.
India currently imports a significant share of its natural gas requirements. Expanding domestic CBG production is therefore expected to strengthen energy security, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and create new economic opportunities for farmers, rural entrepreneurs and private investors.
The initiative also builds on India’s broader efforts to convert waste into energy while supporting a circular economy and reducing environmental impacts.
