NMC’s proposed wet waste-based CNG plant to be operational by Sept 2026

Nashik: The civic body has set Sept 2026 deadline to commission its upgraded wet waste-based CNG plant at Pathardi on the outskirts of the city.The project aims to transform Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC)'s earlier non-operational waste-to-energy plant into a more viable green fuel production system. According to senior NMC officials, a private agency was already finalised through the tendering process, and a work order was issued. Groundwork is expected to commence shortly. The upgraded facility will be established under a public-private partnership (PPP), wherein the appointed agency will be responsible for technical overhaul, commissioning, and long-term operation of the plant. Officials said the existing waste-to-energy project is being comprehensively upgraded to accommodate a wet waste-based compressed natural gas plant. "Following the general body's approval last year, we completed the tender process and selected an agency that will independently upgrade, manage, and operate the plant for 15 years," an official said. The private partner will invest nearly Rs 4.5 crore in the technical upgrade, new machinery, and system integration. In return, NMC will earn a revenue share from the sale of the generated CNG, fixed at Rs 4.5 per kg. The corporation expects this model to ensure financial viability without additional capital burden on municipal resources. The upcoming facility will generate 480 kg of CNG per day and require 30 metric tonnes of segregated wet waste as daily input. "Given the recent emphasis on mandatory segregation of waste at source, we anticipate adequate supply of wet waste to sustain the plant. We are confident of the facility being made operational within six months," officials added. NMC's earlier waste-to-energy plant at Pathardi, set up with technical support from the German development agency GIZ, was awarded in 2015 to a Bengaluru-based operator with a target of producing 3,300 units of power per day. However, the project faced persistent technical and operational challenges, and the operator failed to achieve expected output. The civic body terminated the contract in July 2021 and took control of the plant. Though NMC attempted to run the plant using food waste from hotels, inconsistent supply and operational hurdles forced it to shut down the unit, prompting the shift towards a CNG-based model. Civic officials believe the revamped project will deliver better efficiency, consistent output, and sustainable waste management for the city.