PANAJI
The Union Ministry for Jal Shakti has pulled up the Goa government over significant delay in completion of the proposed integrated bio-methanation based power generation unit (biogas plant) due to various issues including failure of the competent authorities to grant approvals.
In a communication to the Chief Secretary Dr V Candavelou, Union Secretary for Jal Shakti Ashok Kumar Meena has requested to ensure necessary directions are issued to the concerned authorities to facilitate the “early resolution of the issues”.
The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has sanctioned Rs 3 crore to Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) for setting up a Power Generation Plant of 1.0 Megawatt (MW) based on biogas at Saligao plateau.
The plant will be designed to be able to treat 120 TPD (120 TPD+20%) of wet waste daily and will produce electricity which shall be utilised to run the entire facility. Surplus electricity will be exported to the electricity grid. The total cost of the project is around Rs 11.75 crore.
“…that there is significant delay in completion of plants due to land allotment issues, feedstock issues and approval of project from the competent authority. It is requested to kindly direct the concerned authorities to facilitate the early resolution of the issues,” Kumar said in the letter dated December 9.
The proposed facility is expected to come up within the premises of the Saligao solid waste treatment plant.
The Central government has been promoting setting up of biogas/ compressed biogas (CBG)/ Bio-CNG plants under the ‘Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) - Waste to Wealth initiative.
In the Budget 2023-24, the Union Ministry announced setting up of 500 new GOBARdhan plants including 200 CBG plants, Kumar said adding the Ministry has given mandate to Oil and Gas Marketing Companies for setting up 195 compressed biogas plants either through direct investments or private partnership throughout the country.
The proposed plant will deal with fruit and vegetable market waste and hotel/ restaurant/ kitchen waste from urban areas, livestock waste (cattle) and industrial (sugar press mud solid waste).
According to the details available from the GWMC, the biogas will be generated from the wet (organic) fraction, which will be converted into electricity whereas the stabilised organic sludge shall be further processed to generate high quality soil conditioner and compost.
GWMC had said that the electricity as generated shall be utilised to run the entire facility including process units, lighting, ventilation and various auxiliaries of the biogas gen-sets. The surplus electricity shall be exported to the Electricity Grid.
