Oil India to set up Rs 150 crore biogas plant in Odisha; to process 200 TPD of wet waste

The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) and Oil India Limited (OIL) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday (April 5) to establish a Rs 150 crore compressed biogas (CBG) plant in Jagatpur’s Ward 59.

The agreement, witnessed by Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, aims to transform the city’s waste management and clean energy infrastructure.

Project Completion Timeline

The facility, spanning 11 acres, is expected to be operational within 22 months. According to the details shared at the event, the plant will process 200 tonnes of segregated municipal solid waste daily, converting it into 10-15 tonnes of biogas and organic manure.

Further, OIL will oversee design, funding, construction, and operations, while the CMC will supply segregated waste.

Employment Generation, Expected Facilities and Outputs

The project is set to create 75 direct jobs for plant operations and maintenance, offering local employment opportunities in technical and managerial roles.

The plant will produce compressed biogas for industrial and commercial use, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. A by-product, organic manure, will support agricultural activities while addressing waste disposal challenges and aligning with Odisha’s green energy vision.

Background: Tackling Legacy Waste

The initiative follows CMC’s recent efforts to clear 7,000 tons of legacy waste near the Mahanadi riverbank, spurred by a March 2024 Orissa High Court order banning dumping at Gadagadia Ghat.

ALSO READ: Cuttack’s fight against waste: Race on to clear tons, amid future-proofing plans after Orissa HC, NGT raps

Expansion Across Odisha

Notably, the Cuttack plant is part of a statewide push. In December 2024, Oil India Limited signed a similar pact with Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation for a 200 TPD plant, with plans to scale capacity to 300 TPD. Additional projects in Puri, Sambalpur, Rourkela, and Berhampur are also underway.