Andhra Pradesh’s Push for Net-Zero Carbon Emissions
Kanigiri (Andhra Pradesh) [India], April 2 (ANI): As part of India’s mission to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2035, structured efforts are underway to develop alternative energy resources. The Andhra Pradesh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, is taking decisive steps toward this goal, according to an official statement.
With the initiative of State Minister for Human Resources, IT, and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, Reliance has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Andhra Pradesh government to establish 500 Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants with an investment of ₹65,000 crore. As part of this initiative, Minister Nara Lokesh will lay the foundation stone for the first Reliance CBG plant in Kanigiri, Prakasam district.
Key Attendees and Investment Plan
The event will be attended by Minister of Energy Gottipati Ravi Kumar, other state ministers, Reliance Industries Director PMS Prasad, RIL Mentor PVL Madhav Rao, and Reliance Bio Energy Business CEO Harindra K. Tripathi. This marks a significant milestone in the biofuel industry.
Over the next five years, ₹65,000 crore will be invested, generating approximately 2.5 lakh direct and indirect job opportunities. A total of 500 CBG plants will be set up, utilizing 5 lakh acres of barren land. Each plant will require 1,000 acres of land and will be established at a cost of ₹130 crore—₹105 crore for plant setup and ₹25 crore for land rejuvenation. The initiative is expected to result in an annual production of 40 million metric tons of CBG.
Production and Environmental Impact
Each plant will produce 7,800 metric tons of compressed bio-gas and 22,000 metric tons of high-quality fermented manure annually, helping fertilize approximately 3,000 acres of land.
Reliance is establishing four integrated CBG hubs across India, with one of them located in the Prakasam district. The company plans to set up CBG plants in barren lands across Andhra Pradesh, including Prakasam, Anantapur, Chittoor, and Kadapa districts. The goal is to convert 3-4 percent of barren lands into renewable energy plantations through these 500 integrated CBG plants.
Reliance aims to cultivate hybrid Napier grass and other energy crops on 5.5 lakh acres of barren land in Andhra Pradesh to fuel these integrated CBG plants. The green fertilizer produced will help transform non-productive lands into fertile farmlands, boosting rural employment and economic activity in the state.
Contribution to India’s Energy and Agriculture Sectors
India has 160 million acres of barren land across 13 categories, a figure that is increasing annually due to climate change. Nearly 50 percent of India’s barren land is concentrated in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat. The establishment of CBG plants is expected to drive large-scale industrialization and contribute to GDP growth.
Once all the CBG plants are operational, they will fuel 9.75 lakh light commercial vehicles (LCVs) daily, meeting 5 percent of India’s fuel demand. Additionally, the 110 million metric tons of organic fertilizer produced from these plants will help improve the fertility of 15 lakh acres of land. (ANI)
About The Author
