Compressed biogas plant starts treating 90 tonnes of waste daily

Kochi: After months of trial run, the compressed biogas (CBG) plant at Brahmapuram has started treating 90 tonnes of garbage daily and generating methane. Kochi corporation authorities said the plant would soon treat around 150 tonnes daily, which is the target in the first phase. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the plant on Feb 27.The quantity of waste treated daily will be increased gradually until it reaches the optimum 150-tonne limit. "Once the plant reaches 150-tonne daily capacity, we will be able to use the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) plants to treat garbage from neighbouring local bodies. This will cut down our expenditure on waste treatment," mayor V K Minimol said. "According to the reports we get, generation of methane, which is the plant's output, has started. However, as per the existing agreement with BPCL Kochi Refinery, the corporation will not get any share of revenue from the sale of methane. But we don't have to give any money to the BPCL Kochi Refinery for treating our waste," Minimol said. The plant is likely to achieve its 150-tonne target in June unless there are adversities like heavy and prolonged rain, said a Kochi corporation official.Methane (CH4) will form only 50% of the gas generated by treating waste, with carbon dioxide and others making up the rest. They will have to be separated to generate 97% methane. The plan is to enhance daily waste treatment up to 300 tonnes in a phased manner.BPCL Kochi Refinery has set up the CBG plant on 10 acres of land at the corporation's solid waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram.