HPCL Cow dung to Compressed Biogas Project

Recently, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation started its Cowdung to Compressed Biogas project in Sanchore, Rajasthan. This will be HPCL’s first project under the Waste to Energy portfolio.

Key Points

• The plant proposes to use 100 tonnes of cow dung per day for the production of biogas, which can be used as automotive fuel. The project is being developed under the GOBAR-DHAN scheme and is expected to be commissioned in a year.
• This scheme aims to improve cleanliness and produce wealth and energy from organic waste and livestock.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)

It is an Indian oil and natural gas company which is headquartered at Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was incorporated in 1974 after the takeover and merger of erstwhile Esso Standard and Lube India. The merger was done through the Esso (Acquisition of Undertaking in India) Act passed by Parliament.

What is Gobar Dhan Yojana?

Launched in 2018, the GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources)-Dhan scheme has been implemented as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). It seeks to keep villages clean and increase rural income by generating energy from cattle and other biodegradable waste. An integrated portal was launched to monitor the progress of activities under this scheme. The new integrated approach seeks to enable coordination of all relevant policies/schemes by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Significance of Scheme

• The scheme will be hugely beneficial for country as India is home to highest cattle population in world (around 300 million in number) which produces around 3 million tonnes of dung.
• It will encourage farmers to consider dung and other waste not just as waste but as source of income. It will provide many benefits to rural people by keeping villages clean and sanitized, improving livestock health and increasing farm yields.
• Under it, biogas generation will help to increase self-reliance in energy utilized for cooking and lighting. It will augment income of farmers and cattle herders. It will create new opportunities for jobs linked to waste collection, transportation, biogas sales etc.
• It will also provide stable fuel supply in market for oil companies and accessible credit in market through government schemes and banks for entrepreneurs. Villagers will be mobilized under this scheme to create self-help groups (SHGs) and creative societies that will help in clean energy and green jobs initiative.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2022