To make productive use of crop residue and to prevent stubble burning, Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GAIL (India) Limited, paving the way for setting up of 10 Compressed Biogas Projects (CBG) and other new and renewable energy projects in the State.
The MoU was signed by PEDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Amarpal Singh and Executive Director (Business Development and E&P) of GAIL (India) RK Singhal in the presence of New and Renewable Energy Sources Secretary Dr Ravi Bhagat.
Congratulating GAIL (India) Limited and PEDA for signing this MOU for setting up 10 CBG projects, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also asked PEDA to provide fulsome support and cooperation to GAIL.
The state’s New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Aman Arora said that the pact will help the State to manage five lakh tons of paddy straw per annum and generate clean energy out of it. “Punjab is an agrarian state and it has immense potential for crop residue-based CBG plants,” he said.
NRES Secretary Dr Bhagat said that with the implementation of these 10 projects, at least three lakh tons of paddy straw in around 1.25 lakh acres is expected to be prevented from being burnt. These projects will also create around 50 rural entrepreneurs for the supply of paddy straw to these plants, further generating employment for over 500 persons by these rural entrepreneurs, he added.
PEDA CEO Dr Amarpal Singh informed that the CBG produced from these projects will generate direct employment to more than 250 persons and indirect employment of about 600. He added that PEDA will facilitate GAIL for land locations and statutory clearances.
GAIL India executive director RK Singhal said that they will develop projects in the field of New and Renewable Energy Sources. “GAIL (India) Limited will be initially setting up 10 CBG projects with an investment of about Rs 600 crores producing 35,000 tons of biogas (CBG) and about 8,700 tons of organic manure annually. These projects will create around 100 rural entrepreneurs for the supply of paddy straw to these plants. The possibility to establish other New and Renewable Energy Projects in the state will be explored,” he added.