Suzuki R&D Centre India Private Limited (SRDI) – a wholly owned subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) in India, has inked a deal with Banas Dairy of Palanpur, a member union of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) and Anand-headquartered National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to establish animal dung based biogas production plants in North Gujarat.
The contract signed at the Embassy of India in Tokyo, Japan, says four biogas plants will be established in Banaskantha by 2025. The number of plants can be further increased as per mutual agreement of all parties. The plants are expected to play a crucial role in reducing pollution, preserving the environment and generating green and clean energy with a total investment of around Rs 230 crore.
While SRDI will provide financial assistance for establishing these plants to be set up by NDDB, Banas Dairy will arrange land for the project and also operate these plants. The biogas produced will be purified, and compressed to generate compressed biomethane gas for vehicles. The slurry produced in the biogas plants will be utilised to produce organic fertilizers, which would significantly contribute towards reducing the usage of chemical fertilizers and improving soil health.
Sibi George, Ambassador of India to Japan along with T Suzuki, president of SMC; Shankar Chaudhary, chairman of Banas Dairy; Meenesh Shah, chairman of NDDB; Jayen Mehta, managing director of GCMMF and Sangram Chaudhary, MD of Banas Dairy were present during the ceremony.
“It is a recognition to NDDB’s manure management initiative and this collaboration will help in scaling up the initiative rapidly,” said NDDB chairman Meenesh Shah. “All the three parties will not only limit their collaboration to setting up plants but will extensively work on research and development.”
“This project will provide our farmers with additional income opportunities with net zero carbon neutrality. These projects are an initial step to make Banaskantha, an organic and energy self-reliant district,” said Banas Dairy’s chairman.
Additionally, biogas filling stations will be set up alongside each plant to distribute fuel for CNG vehicles and organic fertiliser production facilities will be established to promote organic farming, it added.
Maintaining that the project is focused on making India cleaner and helping farmers earn additional income from byproducts of their animal husbandry business, the statement said, “This cleaner energy of bio CNG can be further utilised for production of green hydrogen as well as liquid bio methane as green energy sources.”
The statement quoted Shankar Chaudhary as saying, “This project is a testament to the vision of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is guiding us to create a greener India and provide our farmers with additional income opportunities with net zero carbon neutrality and promoting a circular economy. These projects are an initial step to make Banaskantha district an organic district and energy self-reliant district.”
Also Read: 2 Die As Family Attempts Suicide Over Daughter’s Marriage
