Banas Dairy – Suzuki Expand Bio-CNG Network with New Plant in Banaskantha

Banaskantha: A new Bio-CNG plant at Vinchhiwadi in Dhanera taluka has been inaugurated as part of an expanding clean-energy initiative led by Banas Dairy, in partnership with Suzuki Motor Corporation and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

The plant is designed to convert cattle dung into biogas and subsequently purify it into Bio-CNG, creating a value chain that links livestock farming, renewable energy and organic agriculture. The project is expected to provide livestock owners with an additional source of income from cattle dung while generating a cleaner alternative to conventional fuels.

The inauguration was attended by Gujarat Legislative Assembly Speaker and Banas Dairy Chairman Shankarbhai Chaudhary, Suzuki Motor Corporation Chairman Toshihiro Suzuki, Agriculture Minister Jitubhai Vaghani and Forest and Environment Minister Praveenbhai Mali.

During their visit, the dignitaries reviewed the plant’s operations, including cattle dung processing, biogas generation, gas purification and Bio-CNG distribution.

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From cattle dung to clean fuel

The Vinchhiwadi project is part of Banas Dairy’s broader effort to establish an integrated ‘waste-to-wealth’ model in the livestock economy. Under the model, cattle dung collected from farmers is processed to produce biogas. The gas is then purified and compressed for use as Bio-CNG, while the residual slurry can be utilised as organic manure.

Banas Dairy Chairman Shankarbhai Chaudhary said the Bio-CNG initiative had expanded significantly from its initial plant at Dama. The Dama facility began with a processing capacity of 45 metric tonnes, while four operational plants in the region now have a combined capacity of around 340 metric tonnes per day.

Two additional plants are planned at Tharad and Radhanpur, he said.

Chaudhary said Greater Banaskantha has the potential to support around 100 such plants, given the availability of cattle dung from an estimated 30 lakh livestock in the region.

The expansion is aimed at creating a localised circular economy in which cattle dung, traditionally treated as waste, becomes an input for energy production and agriculture. According to Banas Dairy, scientific processing of dung can also contribute to improving soil organic carbon through the use of the resulting organic manure.

Suzuki partnership

Suzuki Motor Corporation Chairman Toshihiro Suzuki described the Vinchhiwadi facility as an important milestone in the development of green energy.

He said Suzuki’s partnership with Banas Dairy and NDDB would support the expansion of biogas technology in India. The initiative is also linked to the broader India-Japan cooperation on expanding biogas infrastructure, with a stated goal of establishing 1,000 biogas plants across the country.

Suzuki said the company, which has four decades of experience in India, intends to deepen its engagement in the sector through its partnership with Banas Dairy.

A model for the livestock economy

The Bio-CNG initiative seeks to address multiple challenges faced by livestock-dependent rural communities. By creating a market for cattle dung, the model gives farmers an additional revenue stream beyond milk production. At the same time, locally produced Bio-CNG can support the transition towards cleaner fuels.

The project also provides a potential source of organic fertiliser for agriculture, creating a cycle in which livestock waste is converted into both energy and agricultural inputs.

The Gujarat government has allocated Rs 60 crore in its budget to support the expansion of similar Bio-CNG projects through cooperative dairies in the state. According to Agriculture Minister Jitubhai Vaghani, Banas Dairy will provide guidance for establishing such plants at around seven other cooperative dairies.

With the Vinchhiwadi plant adding to the existing network, Banaskantha is emerging as an important hub for the conversion of livestock waste into renewable energy, positioning the dairy cooperative model as a potential template for integrating animal husbandry, clean energy and sustainable agriculture. DeshGujarat