Gujarat to set up 20,000 new individual biogas plants in FY27

The state of Gujarat is actively turning cattle dung into a rural energy opportunity by announcing the expansion of its GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) programme. Under this initiative, planned for the 2027 fiscal year, the region will install 20,000 new individual biogas plants. The program is being rolled out through a strong network of dairy cooperatives, including the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), as well as companies like Amul, Banas Dairy, and Dudhsagar Dairy.

This expansion follows the Union Cabinet's approval of the National Circular Bioenergy Scheme – GOBARdhan, which has a total outlay of ₹23,731 crore. The program is designed to foster a circular economy in rural areas, converting organic waste into valuable resources such as bioenergy and high-quality bio-fertilisers. The state aims not only to improve sanitation in villages but also to provide households with an environmentally friendly cooking fuel source.

Since the launch of the program in FY24, Gujarat has already operationalised more than 14,000 biogas plants across 88 clusters. The first phase covered 7,423 installations implemented with the support of leading dairy organizations. The second phase, fully funded by the state government, targets the installation of 10,000 systems across 50 clusters. The rapid pace of implementation highlights the success of the collaboration model between the public sector and agricultural cooperatives.

The technical design features modern 2-cubic-metre flexible biogas plants made from durable high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Each kit includes a biodigester, a geotextile sheet, gas pipelines, a hydrogen sulphide filter, a two-burner stove, a pressure regulator, and other accessories. The cost of installation is partially covered by a subsidy of ₹25,000 under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), with farmers contributing a personal share of ₹5,000.

According to UNICEF data cited by the state, each biogas plant can save the equivalent of 8-10 LPG cylinders annually and process approximately 18,250 kg of livestock waste. This not only reduces the carbon footprint by about 834 kg of CO2 per year but also improves rural health by minimizing exposure to smoke from traditional cooking methods. Furthermore, the use of bio-slurry as a natural fertilizer significantly boosts the efficiency of agricultural production throughout the region.