BPCL’s CBG plant in Kochi to be inaugurated by Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Kochi, Feb 27: The Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) at Brahmapuram in Kochi will be inaugurated on February 27, 2026, by Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala. The ceremony will be held in the presence of Suresh Gopi, Hon’ble Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Tourism.

The commissioning of the CBG plant aligns with the Government of India’s efforts to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. As envisaged under the National Biofuel Policy 2018, the project contributes to the national objective of lowering crude oil import dependence by 10%, with emphasis on second-generation (2G) bio-refineries and Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) facilities.

Among the dignitaries attending the event are Shri M.B. Rajesh, Minister for Local Self Governments, Rural Development & Excise; Shri P. Rajeev, Hon’ble Minister of Law, Industries & Coir, Government of Kerala; Shri Sanjay Khanna, Director (Refineries) with Additional Charge of Chairman & Managing Director, BPCL; Shri Benny Behanan, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Chalakudy; Adv. P.V. Sreenijin, Hon’ble MLA, Kunnathunadu; and Adv. Minimol V.K., Mayor of Kochi Municipal Corporation, along with senior officials from the Government of Kerala and BPCL.

Addressing Brahmapuram’s Legacy Waste Challenge

For years, approximately 110 acres at Brahmapuram were burdened with nearly 3.5 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste. The catastrophic fire of March 2, 2023, became a turning point, following which the Kerala High Court directed the Government of Kerala to implement a lasting solution.

In response, BPCL’s Kochi Refinery proposed establishing a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)-based CBG plant at Brahmapuram to address Kochi’s growing municipal waste challenge. The Government of Kerala approved the proposal in November 2023.

Plant Capacity and Operations

The facility has been designed to process 150 tonnes per day of source-segregated biodegradable Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). The Kochi Municipal Corporation has allocated 10 acres of land for the project and supplies waste collected from 180 collection points across 21 health circles.

The plant features a comprehensive pre-treatment section to ensure feedstock suitability for digestion. Pre-treated MSW is converted into slurry and processed through hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion in two large digesters, each 12 meters high and 30 meters in diameter. The biogas generated is temporarily stored in balloon domes before purification.

A water scrubber system removes impurities such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide from raw biogas. The purified biogas is compressed to 60 kg/cm² and supplied through a dedicated pipeline to the Kochi Refinery.

In addition to biogas, the plant produces Solid Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) and Liquid Fermented Organic Manure (LFOM). The FOM is dried and bagged for sale, while LFOM is partly recycled and surplus treated through a 120 KLD Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP).

Advanced Automation and Safety Systems

The entire plant is operated through a Honeywell C-900 PLC-SCADA based automation system, enabling real-time monitoring, process control, and data logging. The control room houses compressor and air blower control panels and is equipped with CCTV surveillance for continuous visual monitoring.

Power is supplied from the KSEB Brahmapuram substation at 11kV and stepped down via two 2MVA transformers to 415V for plant operations. The substation includes a 100kVA emergency diesel generator to ensure uninterrupted supply to critical loads during power failures.

The facility is further supported by a ground-mounted flare system, fire water system, cooling tower, chillers, centralized control room, electrical substation, and administrative infrastructure, ensuring safe and efficient operations.

A Step Toward Sustainable Waste Management

The commissioning of the CBG plant marks a significant milestone in sustainable waste management and renewable energy generation in Kerala. The project not only addresses Kochi’s municipal waste concerns but also contributes to cleaner energy production and circular economy initiatives.