BMC & MGL ink deal to set up compressed biogas plant

MUMBAI: The BMC on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with Mahanagar Gas Limited for setting up a compressed biogas plant (CBG) in the city. The CBG plant will have the capacity to process up to 1,000 tonnes of wet waste every day, said civic officials.
The BMC will collect the wet waste generated from hotels, restaurants, banquet halls and major vegetable markets across the city through dedicated vehicles, segregate it and deliver it to the plant, where it will be processed to produce compressed biogas. The municipality will provide the land for the CBG plant, which is expected to be set up in two years' time.
According to BMC officials, after work on the CBG project is complete, it will be extended further to three more phases: a biomass waste treatment plant, an organic fertilizer production plant and a green fuel production plant.
The biogas produced will be used within the city. Biogas, which is purified and compressed, can also be used as fuel for vehicles.
Mumbai generates about 6,500 tonnes of daily waste, including 3,500 tonnes wet waste. The CBG plant is expected to recycle about one-third of the 3,500 tonnes of wet waste.
According to BMC officials, the proposal for setting up the CBG plant was mooted by the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas. Mahanagar Gas Limited is an enterprise of the Maharashtra government and GAIL, which is a PSU under this ministry.