Latest news with #CBG
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
More CBG plants coming up across State, says Minister Rajesh
Apart from Kozhikode and Kochi, five more compressed biogas (CBG) plants are being set up in different parts of the State, Minister for Local Self-Governments M.B. Rajesh has said. He was here on Monday (July 28) to attend an event where an agreement was signed between the Kozhikode Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. to set up a CBG plant at Njeliyanparamba in the city. Mr. Rajesh said that CBG plants would come up in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Changanassery, Thrissur, and Palakkad as well. BPCL is involved in the projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. A trial run for the Kochi plant, located at Brahmapuram, was being conducted at present. Around 150 tonnes of waste would be processed a day there. The plant could be commissioned by September this year, he said. Mr. Rajesh said that strict action would be taken against those who dump waste in public places instead of the dust bins installed for the purpose. He claimed that CBG plants would not only make cities clean but also lead to the creation of a commercial product in the form of biogas. The agreement was signed by T.V. Anupama, Special Secretary, Department of Local Self-Governments, K.U. Bini, Corporation Secretary, and P. Anil Kumar, Executive Director, BPCL. Minister for Public Works and Tourism P.A. Mohamed Riyas and Minister for Forests and Wildlife A.K. Saseendran, among others, were present. The CBG plant is coming up at an eight-acre plot at Njeliyanparamba. The cost of the project is ₹99 crore. The land has been handed over to BPCL on a 25-year lease. The work is expected to be completed in 24 months. The plant will have a capacity to process 150 tonnes to 180 tonnes of biowaste a day. From this, 56 tonnes of biogas and 20-25 tonnes of bio fertiliser can be generated a day. The biogas will be sold to Gas Authority of India Ltd., and a fuel station will be set up on the premises.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Mohali suffocating under garbage, but no sight of waste mgmt plant at Samgoli
Even as Mohali grapples with a growing solid waste crisis, the much-needed Solid Waste Management Project at Samgoli in Dera Bassi remains entangled in bureaucratic red tape. After years of delay, the municipal corporation (MC) has established two waste management facilities at Shahimajra and Jagatpura. (HT Photo) Land for the project was allotted in 2012. But 13 years later, the project remains hanging in balance, leaving the city choking under mounds of unprocessed garbage and denting its Swachh Survekshan score each year. Stinking heaps have become landmarks across neighbourhoods, drawing flies and stray animals, much to residents' dismay. Housing a population of 2.3 lakh, Mohali generates around 150 tonnes of waste daily. But shockingly, it still lacks a permanent mechanism for processing the garbage. After years of delay, the municipal corporation (MC) has established two waste management facilities at Shahimajra and Jagatpura. But despite sheds and machinery in place, both plants remain non-functional. The Shahimajra plant has a processing capacity of 40 tonnes per day, while the Jagatpura facility can handle 80 tonnes. Land acquisition hanging fire, no access road Records show that in 2012, the Punjab government planned to acquire 50 acres for the Samgoli project, as a solution to Mohali's garbage woes. However, only 39 acres were acquired by the local bodies department in 2013, with the remaining 11 acres are still pending with the revenue department. A boundary wall was constructed at a cost of ₹35 lakh, and the initial plan was for Mohali MC to build a Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plant. When no private players submitted bids, the matter was handed over to the local bodies department. The department later involved HPCL and GAIL for technical inspection, with HPCL preparing an estimate of ₹27 crore for the CBG plant. The company also demanded road access and wrote to the tehsildar in May last year for land demarcation. A follow-up letter was sent to the department of rural development and panchayati raj in July 2024, which approved road construction at an estimated cost of ₹29 crore. However, the project, to be implemented under the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Corporation (PMIDC), has been awaiting clearance from the head office since March 2025. City mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu said, 'We have already written to the local bodies department to expedite the project. Mohali is overwhelmed by solid waste in the absence of proper processing mechanism. As a result, garbage piles are spreading across the city, posing serious health risks,' he said. 'There is no official dumping ground. Waste is being randomly dumped at RMC collection points. Residents are living in miserable, unhygienic conditions, while the government is dilly-dallying on the matter,' Sidhu added. Sucha Singh Kalaur, president of the Sector 76-80 Plot Allotment Welfare Committee, also criticised the state government: 'The city has gone to the dogs. Heaps of garbage and foul smells are everywhere. This is the so-called 'Future City' they promised?' The mounting crisis has been reflected in national cleanliness rankings as well. In the Swachh Survekshan results announced on July 17, Mohali slipped to 128th place among 903 cities (with populations between 50,000 and 3 lakh), down from 82nd last year. Within Punjab, the city dropped to 11th place among 35 cities, a stark fall from its first-place ranking last year among cities with populations over 1 lakh.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Expert panel to examine two compressed biogas plants in Ludhiana: Punjab CM
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday asked the environmental expert committee to thoroughly examine the Bagga Kalan and Akhaara compressed biogas (CBG) plants in Ludhiana and submit its report in a time-bound manner. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann (PTI) Mann, while interacting with the villagers, said that the expert committee comprising representatives from the Punjab pollution control board, universities and others should meet the villagers and assess all the points related to the setting of these plants. Mann reiterated that the committee will carefully examine each and every concern being raised by the residents. The CM said that the committee should submit the report pertaining to the plants in a time-bound manner so that adequate action can be taken on it. He said the government will not allow any violations, and that no action will be taken without first safeguarding the interests of the villagers. He reiterated the state government's firm commitment to pollution control in Punjab and affirmed that there will be zero tolerance for any violation of pollution norms. He said that strict action will be taken against any rule-breakers, adding that the state government is committed to preserving the water and environment of the state. Will develop robust semiconductor ecosystem: CM Chandigarh CM Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that the state government will make every possible effort to develop a robust semiconductor ecosystem in Punjab. Chairing a meeting with representatives of the semiconductor industry here, Mann said that Punjab holds tremendous potential in this sector, and the government is determined to harness it to place the state on a high-growth economic trajectory. The CM assured the industry of full support and cooperation, including the establishment of a dedicated semiconductor park in and around Mohali. Cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora, industries secretary KK Yadav, and Invest Punjab CEO Amit Dhaka were among those present at the meeting.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Mayor Jeeti Sidhu urges govt to approve bio-gas plant at Samgauli to tackle waste crisis
Mayor Amarjeet Singh Jeeti Sidhu has written to the Punjab government seeking immediate approval for setting up a Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plant at Samgauli village, aimed at addressing the growing waste management crisis in SAS Nagar (Mohali). In letters addressed to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Tejveer Singh (Secretary, Local Government Department), and Deepti Uppal (Secretary, PMIDC), the mayor emphasised the urgency of clearing the path for this critical project. 'Several tonnes of domestic and commercial waste are being generated daily in Mohali, creating a serious challenge. With the closure of the city's dumping ground following High Court orders, all waste is now piling up at RMC (resource management centre) points, crippling the sanitation system and posing a major public health risk,' he said. Mayor Sidhu pointed out that although a contract for waste processing was awarded to a Panchkula-based company, the increasing volume of waste has overwhelmed the firm's capacity, leading to delays in timely processing. To offer a long-term solution, the Municipal Corporation has identified 50 acres of land at Samgauli for setting up the proposed CBG plant. He said, 'PMIDC has already been appointed as the nodal agency for this project. The only hurdle now is the pending approval from the Local Government Department.' Sidhu appealed for swift clearance to kickstart the project, which, he asserted, would reduce the city's mounting garbage issue and also contribute to sustainable energy generation.
Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Rising border tensions weigh on investor sentiment
Escalating tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border are affecting investor sentiment and threatening several key business sectors, especially beverages, tourism, retail oil and exports, according to Daol Securities (Thailand). Mongkol Puangpetra, executive vice-president for strategy research at Daol, issued a cautious investment outlook, highlighting specific downside risks for companies with significant exposure to Cambodia. The firm singled out Samart Aviation Solutions (SAV) and Carabao Group (CBG) as the most vulnerable in this climate. SAV, which derives all of its revenue from its air traffic control concessions in Cambodia (valid through 2051), is viewed as highly sensitive to any deterioration in Thai-Cambodian relations. Daol recommends postponing investments in SAV until the situation stabilises, citing heightened geopolitical risk. Meanwhile, CBG, a major energy drinks producer, earns roughly 13% of its revenue from Cambodia, where it commands a market share of more than 50%. The company has a three-month inventory buffer and has shifted to sea freight to mitigate risk, though shipments now take 3-4 days longer than land transport. Despite the tension, Cambodian distributors report stable sales and consumption levels. However, should exports halt between July and December, CBG could face a 340-million-baht loss in net profit, equal to around 10% of its earnings. The brokerage believes this downside is largely priced in, and maintains its full-year profit forecast for CBG at 3.3 billion baht. Meanwhile, CBG's new factory in Cambodia is still slated to open on Dec 1. Other beverage firms such as Osotspa (OSP) have only limited exposure, with Cambodian exports accounting for just 1% of revenue. According to Daol, retail operators have reported minimal risk from border unrest. Siam Global House (GLOBAL), which operates two stores in Cambodia through a 55%-owned joint venture, earns less than 2% of its revenue from the Cambodian market, while CP Axtra (CPAXT) operates three stores in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, contributing less than 1% of revenue. CP All, the local operator of 7-Eleven, has 112 stores in Cambodia, but the revenue impact remains less than 1%, noted the brokerage. For the retail oil sector, PTT Oil and Retail (OR), which has a significant presence with 186 petrol stations and 71 convenience stores in Cambodia, has reported no operational disruptions so far. Likewise, the food sector reported minimal impact, with Thai Union Group (TU) reporting just 0.01% of revenue from Cambodian exports, and GFPT Plc, which relies on Cambodian labour for 20% of its workforce through third-party agencies, reporting no repatriation requests or labour disruptions. According to Daol, Thai construction firms appear insulated from immediate fallout. CH Karnchang (CK) has no direct Cambodian labour, while Stecon Group (STECON) and SEAFCO Plc report 5% and fewer than 10% of its workforce as being Cambodian, respectively. All these firms have confirmed that their operations are functioning normally at present. However, the border conflict may discourage travellers, with the brokerage warning that escalating tensions could negatively affect inbound tourism. Several countries have issued travel advisories, cautioning against travel to areas near the border.
