Kochi, Feb 28: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited at Brahmapuram in Kochi on Friday (February 27, 2026) in the presence of Suresh Gopi, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism. With the establishment of the plant, the state has taken a significant leap forward in the sustainable management of biodegradable waste, Pinarayi Vijayan said while inaugurating the facility. He added that Kochi has become the first city in Kerala to commission a CBG plant for the treatment of biodegradable waste.
“The CBG plant will process 150 tonnes of source-segregated biodegradable Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) per day. It will generate 5.6 tonnes of compressed biogas and 28 tonnes of organic manure daily. The project is mutually beneficial to both BPCL and the Kochi Corporation,” he said.
He further noted that similar plants will be set up in other districts, including Kozhikode, Kollam, Palakkad, Thrissur and Kottayam. “Once these facilities become operational, Kerala will witness substantial advancements in the management and treatment of biodegradable waste,” he said.
Suresh Gopi said the plant has become a reality through the collaborative efforts of the Kerala Government, the Kochi Corporation, Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking BPCL, and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India. He emphasised that the vision and leadership of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah also played a crucial role in facilitating the realisation of the CBG plant in the state. Their guidance inspired public sector undertakings under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to actively pursue such sustainable initiatives.
“The National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 provides a comprehensive framework to promote bioenergy in India by encouraging the production and use of biofuels. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is setting up 195 CBG plants across the country to promote compressed biogas, of which seven are coming up in Kerala. The Kochi plant stands as a strong testament to India’s commitment to clean energy, the circular economy, and sustainable urban development. It demonstrates how municipal waste can be transformed into eco-friendly fuel, thereby supporting environmental protection and generating livelihoods. This initiative will inspire many more such projects across the country,” he said.
He further appreciated the efforts of the State Government and BPCL in making the project a reality. “I will certainly acknowledge and consider the efforts put forth by the State Government. A couple of years ago, this land was a major concern for everyone. Today, it has transformed into a source of renewable energy,” he said.
Shri. M B Rajesh, Hon’ble Minister for Local Self Governments, Rural Development & Excise and Shri P Rajeev, Hon’ble Minister of Law, Industries & Coir, Govt of Kerala also spoke. Other dignitaries present on the occasion include Shri Sanjay Khanna, Director (Refineries) with Additional Charge of Chairman & Managing Director, BPCL, Adv. P V Sreenijin, Hon’ble Member of Legislative Assembly, Kunnathunadu, Adv. Minimol V.K, Mayor of Kochi Municipal Corporation and Chacko M Jose, Executive Director, BPCL Kochi Refinery and Smt. Anupama TV IAS, Secretary LSGD.
Fire-Hit Brahmapuram Gets Permanent Green Energy Fix:
For years, 110 acres at Brahmapuram remained burdened with nearly 3.5 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste. The catastrophic fire on March 2, 2023, marked a decisive turning point. Following the incident, the Kerala High Court intervened and directed the Government of Kerala to implement an urgent and lasting solution. In response, BPCL Kochi Refinery proposed setting up a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)-based Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant at Brahmapuram, aimed at addressing Kochi’s mounting municipal waste crisis. The Government of Kerala approved the proposal in November 2023.
The CBG plant supports the Centre’s efforts to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. As envisaged under the National Biofuel Policy 2018, the project is expected to contribute to the target of lowering import dependence by 10%, with emphasis on second-generation (2G) bio-refineries and Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants.
The facility has been designed to process 150 tonnes of source-segregated biodegradable Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) per day, supplied by the Kochi Municipal Corporation. The waste undergoes pre-treatment, including the removal of non-biodegradable materials such as plastic and metal, segregation, shredding, and mixing with water to form slurry, before being fed into large anaerobic digesters, where it undergoes biological decomposition in the absence of oxygen. This process results in the generation of biogas and digestate as by-products.
The raw biogas is cleaned to remove impurities such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, then compressed and transported through a dedicated pipeline to the Kochi Refinery for use as fuel. The digestate is processed and separated into solid and liquid organic manure for reuse or sale.
The plant is equipped with advanced automation, safety systems and dedicated power infrastructure to ensure stable and efficient operations. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to produce 5.6 tonnes of compressed biogas and 28 tonnes of organic manure daily. The project will provide a long-term solution to Kochi’s municipal waste management challenges by converting waste into clean energy and useful by-products.