MANGALURU: The first unit of the MRPL's 90 tons per year capacity Vermi-composting project at Mangaluru, using a special breed of worm Eudriluseugeniae, also called the "African Nightcrawler", was inaugurated by Sunil Kumar, Joint Secretary ( Refineries), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) on Monday.
This is the first such unit of the three large scale vermin-composting units being set up by MRPL at the expense of Rs 1.4 crore. "African Nightcrawler" is native to tropical West Africa and is being chosen for this process due to its fecund growth and ability to decompost at the fastest rate. Each worm is capable of decomposting 4 kg of solid waste per day.
MRPL is spread over 2000 acres and generates a significant amount of solid waste in the form of fallen leaves, cut grass, vegetable waste, office waste like paper etc. It will convert nearly 90 tons of waste into 24 tons of manure worth Rs 12 lakh per year. This process will not only help MRPL to manage its solid waste within its campus but also provides good quality manure for its more than 500 acres of Green belt that it nurtures inside the refinery.
Kumar appreciated the quality of the newly set up unit and also MRPL’s environmentally sustainable solid waste management technology.
M Venkatesh, MD, MRPL explained to Kumar about the various environmental friendly initiatives being taken up by MRPL. Sanjay Varma, Director Refinery, Pomila Jaspal, Director Finance, Rajeev Kushwah ITS, Chief Vigilance Officer, Elango M, Executive Director- Projects, UV Aithal, GGM - Operations and MS Sudarsan, CGM – HSE were present on occasion.