GBA looks to supply biogas to hotels in Koramangala

BENGALURU: The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is taking steps to address the LPG shortage in the city by exploring biogas production. The Chief Commissioner recently visited a biogas centre in Koramangala to assess its operations and discuss plans to expand such initiatives.

The biogas centre uses wet waste to produce gas, which is being supplied to hotels in the area. The GBA plans to set up more such centres in other parts of the city to mitigate the LPG shortage. The initiative aims to utilise wet waste and provide an alternative energy source, reducing dependence on LPG. The GBA is looking to expand this initiative to tackle future shortages.

Currently, the city has 12 biogas units set up under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), with six operational and six under renovation. Each unit processes five tons of wet waste daily, producing 30-50 kg of biogas per ton. The gas is used in hotels and to generate electricity for nearby parks, earning the BBMP around Rs 8,400.

GBA Chief Commissioner M Maheshwara Rao, who visited the Koramangala plant on Saturday, told Public TV, “We are looking if the capacity can be increased. There is no scope for a bottling plant, so we will go for nearby restaurants. The wet waste from the entire ward is brought here and methane gas extracted. We should look at more such plants across the city wherever there is adequate space. It will not solve all the problems, but it can be use in substantial places with minor changes in the burners. We will discuss with the hoteliers associations if they can go for some bottling units. Right now, the Koramangala plant supplies to restaurants like Empire”.