Japan PM Takaichi announces Japan-India CBG Initiative to generate energy from cattle dung, biomass; targets 1,000 biogas plants by 2030
New Delhi, July 2
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday announced the launch of the Japan-India Compressed Biogas Initiative, saying she and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to jointly promote the production of clean energy from cattle dung and other agricultural biomass through cooperative institutions.
Addressing the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum in the national capital as part of her three-day official visit to the country, Takaichi said the initiative would harness India's vast and largely underutilised rural biomass resources, including cattle dung, rice straw, sugarcane residue and other agricultural waste, to produce compressed biogas (CBG).
She stated that there a vast biomass resources available in India's rural areas that remain largely underutilised and noted that the project reflects the shared commitment of both countries to promote sustainable energy solutions, strengthen rural economies and deepen bilateral cooperation in the clean energy sector.
"My attention has been drawn to the vast biomass resources available in India's rural areas that remain largely underutilised. These include cattle dung, rice straw, sugarcane residue, and other agricultural biomass. In fact, this is not a new idea. For many years, Prime Minister Modi has promoted a vision of converting rural resources into energy by harnessing the strength of cooperative institutions. I firmly believe that this vision holds the key to opening a new future for both rural development and energy security in India," Takaichi said.
"Based on this shared vision, Prime Minister Modi and I agreed to launch a new project, the Japan-India CBG Initiative, which will utilise cooperative institutions to generate energy from cattle dung and other biomass resources in the form of compressed biogas (CBG)," she added.
The Japanese Prime Minister said that the initiative aims to establish as many as 1,000 biogas plants across India by 2030, contributing to India's clean energy and rural development goals.
She further said that, through a Letter of Intent which was signed following their meeting with PM Modi earlier today, India and Japan would also work towards creating a market of approximately 2.5 million CNG vehicles powered by compressed biogas produced under the initiative.
"This initiative aims to establish as many as 1,000 biogas plants across India by 2030, contributing to India's goals. Moreover, through the letter of intent signed today, we shall jointly create a market of approximately 2.5 million CNG vehicles powered by this biogas," she stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum in New Delhi, where they also visited an exhibition showcasing bilateral economic and technological cooperation.
Takaichi is on a three-day official visit to India from July 1 to 3 at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi.
During the visit, she participated in the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit in which both leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest.
India and Japan share a long-standing friendship rooted in centuries of cultural and civilisational exchange, spiritual affinity, and shared values of freedom, democracy and respect for the rule of law.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good initiative but let's also ensure it doesn't become another top-down project that ignores ground realities. Our farmers need proper training and maintenance support for these plants. Also hope the CBG price is affordable for rural transport. Still, happy to see India-Japan cooperation strengthening in renewable energy!
This is great for both countries. Japan gets to export technology and India reduces dependence on imported oil. 2.5 million CNG vehicles running on cattle dung? That's brilliant. Our villages are full of resources if we think creatively.
I've seen some biogas projects in UP fail because of poor maintenance. The cooperative model is good if it's properly managed - we have strong dairy cooperatives like Amul that can be leveraged. Hope the technology transfer includes local training centres, not just imported Japanese machinery.
Very smart move by PM Modi and Japan PM Takaichi. India has 300 million cattle - imagine the energy potential. This can reduce LPG subsidies too if households get biogas connections. And it'll create rural jobs in collection, processing and distribution. Double win for environment and economy!
1000 plants by 2030 seems ambitious. Let's see how the first 100 go. But the concept is solid - biogas reduces methane from open dung pits, provides clean fuel, and creates organic fertiliser as byproduct. It's the circular economy in action!
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