Purabi Dairy, NDDB and Suzuki R&D India sign MoU for compressed biogas plant in Assam
The MoU was signed in the presence of Toshihiro Suzuki, President of Suzuki Motor Corporation, and Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman of NDDB. Signatories were S Rajeev, Executive Director of NDDB; Satya Brata Bose, Managing Director of NEDFL; and Kenichiro Toyofuku, Director of SRDI.
NEDFL is a joint venture between the Government of Assam and NDDB. The company markets its products under the Purabi brand and operates within Assam's cooperative dairy sector.
Under the agreement, the plant will convert agricultural and dairy waste into compressed biogas and organic fertiliser. Compressed biogas can be used as fuel for vehicles and industrial applications as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels.
The three parties will divide responsibilities as follows: NDDB will provide technical and institutional support; NEDFL will execute the project, operate the CBG plant and handle the marketing and sale of the compressed biogas and bio-fertilisers; and Suzuki R&D India will invest in the project and take the carbon benefits arising from the reduction in emissions. The organic fertiliser produced is intended to support agricultural use and generate additional income from farm and dairy waste.
Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman of NDDB, said the North-East and Assam are known for near-natural agriculture, and that the initiative would move the state towards sustainable organic agriculture alongside income from dairying.
Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President of Suzuki Motor Corporation, said in a statement: "Suzuki is currently involved in nine biogas plants across India, two of which are already in operation in Banaskantha, Gujarat. With the new memorandum of understanding regarding a biogas plant in Assam signed, Suzuki will continue to make contributions in its own way toward the efforts of the governments of Japan and India to promote the adoption of biogas plants in India."
SB Bose, Managing Director of NEDFL, said Purabi was committed to developing the project as part of the region's clean-energy and waste-management goals.
