NDDB, Suzuki & Banas Dairy to setup first four dung based CBG plants in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district

Anand: The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Suzuki R&D Center India Pvt Ltd (SRDI), an Indian subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and Banas Dairy entered into a tripartite agreement to setup four dung-based biogas plants for generating Compressed Biomethane Gas (CBG) in Banaskantha district of Gujarat. The agreement is a culmination of the MoU inked earlier for taking up biogas projects by leveraging the strength of dairy cooperative network.

The agreement was signed by Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB, Shri Sangram Chaudhary, MD, Banas Dairy and Mr Kenichiro Toyofuku, Director, SRDI in the gracious presence of Shri Sibi George, His Excellency, Indian Ambassador to Japan; Shri Shankar Chaudhary, Chairman, Banas Dairy & Speaker, Gujarat Legislative Assembly; Mr T Suzuki, President, Suzuki Motor Corporation; Mr Hideaki Domochi, outside Director, Suzuki Motor Corporation and Shri Jayen Mehta, MD, GCMMF Ltd at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan.

This unique initiative is the first of its kind wherein automobile and dairy sector are collaborating to achieve multiple benefits such as enhance farmers’ income through dung sale, use of dung-based biogas to power vehicles, production of organic fertilizers and in the process reducing carbon footprint of dairy and automobile sector.

SRDI will provide financial assistance for establishing these plants to be setup 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 CBG. Exclusive CBG stations will come up for vehicles. Slurry produced in the biogas plants will be utilised to produce organic fertilizers, which would significantly contribute towards reducing usage of chemical fertilizers and improve soil health.

Shri Shankar Chaudhary said, “This project is a testament to the vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri 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 circular economy. These projects are an initial step to make Banaskantha district, an organic district and energy self-reliant district. We are proud to be part of this important journey.”

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB said, “This pathbreaking initiative will help in realising Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of ‘Waste to Wealth’ and also extending it to ‘Waste to Energy’. It is a momentous occasion wherein for the first time two very different sectors have joined hands and found a common cause to fulfill their commitment towards India’s overall development.”

He further said, “It is a recognition to NDDB’s manure management initiative and this collaboration will help in scaling up the initiative rapidly. He added that all the three parties will not only limit their collaboration to setting up plants but will extensively work on Research and Development also.”

Mr Suzuki conveyed, “Suzuki is tackling to reduce greenhouse gas in ways that suit the situations of each country and region. In India, biogas production is expected to have high reduction effects. We will contribute toward realizing carbon neutrality through making proactive initiatives in the biogas production business.”