TFP Bureau, Raipur, November 9, 2025. Chhattisgarh is emerging as a significant hub for biofuel production, with private companies committing investments worth approximately ₹3,500 crore under the state’s Industrial Policy 2024–2030. The developments were highlighted at the Biofuel and Bioenergy Expo organized by the Chhattisgarh Biofuel Development Authority (CBDA) from November 7 to 9 at Shriram Business Park in Raipur. A seminar on the state’s Biofuel Roadmap Vision 2024–29 was also held, focusing on new technologies, feedstock innovations and upcoming projects.
Addressing the seminar, CBDA CEO Sumit Sarkar said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnudeo Sai, the state is taking decisive steps to position itself as a leader in the biofuel sector. He said that Oil and Gas Marketing Companies (OGMCs) including GAIL and BPCL have begun work on eight municipal solid waste (MSW) and biomass-based compressed biogas (CBG) plants across various urban local bodies. ONGC Green and HPCL Green are surveying additional sites for new CBG production units.
Sarkar added that trials are underway to produce bioethanol and CBG from rice, maize and gram residues. Parallel efforts include enzyme production, development of new microbial strains, and research into using agricultural waste as feedstock. He noted that CBDA is now preparing for biomass-based hydrogen production in the bio-aviation fuel segment, which will be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through hydroprocessed ester and fatty acid (HEFA) technology.
Chhattisgarh has already developed a standard operating procedure for bioethanol production from surplus rice. In collaboration with the National Sugar Institute, Kanpur, CBDA has also initiated sugar beet cultivation trials at its Godhi site in Durg district as an alternative ethanol feedstock, aimed at contributing to India’s 20 percent ethanol blending target.
Industry experts and representatives from leading companies participated in the seminar. GAIL officials Mohammad Najib Qureshi and Jitendra Pandey briefed participants on the state’s city gas distribution network, while BPCL DGM Sanjay Thakur presented the potential for compressed biogas production in Chhattisgarh. Reliance Industries DGM Sushil Verma shared insights on CBG production from paddy.
Other technical sessions covered biogas plant operations, anaerobic composting systems, CBG potential from sewage treatment plants, and policy and pricing frameworks. Speakers included Dr. Vanita Prasad (REVY Environmental Solutions), Rajesh Date (Atrium Innovation Pvt. Ltd., Pune), Sukant Kumar Meher (Ingrotech Aqua Engineers Pvt. Ltd., Sambalpur), and Jitendra Narayan (AEC Agritech Pvt. Ltd.).
Officials said the expo aims to accelerate investment, strengthen the state’s clean energy ecosystem, and promote biofuel technologies that support national energy goals.
