India’s first bio-CNG plant is all set to be inaugurated in Pune. Commissioned by city-based Primove Engineering Private Limited, this plant will use agricultural residue to generate CNG which can be used in automobiles as fuel. “600 million tonnes of agricultural waste is generated per year in the country. With every few uses of this residue, most of it is wasted.

The idea of using agricultural residue for generation of CNG was considered as the problem of disposal of agricultural waste was a major concern in the country.

The process of generation of CNG from agricultural waste involves treating the waste with a special bacterial solution, after which the gas so generated is cleaned and compressed for use in vehicles. The plant located in Pirangut, Pune, has been set up as a Proof of Concept (PoC) which can be replicated elsewhere.

The company has invested around Rs 4.5 crore in the plant and has applied for a process patent for it. At least Rs 15 crore of investment is necessary for a 5-tonne standalone plant.

There are examples of use of bio-CNG as automobile fuel in Europe but this would be the first time such a technology will be used in India. During the trial run, the company tested at least seven different kinds of vehicles which ranged from autorickshaws to buses to test the fuel