An e-conclave on ‘Promotion of Biogas through SATAT and GOBARDHAN: Aspiration and Roadmap for Northeast India’ was organized by the Department of Energy, Tezpur University as part of its Silver Jubilee celebration on August 30 and 31, 2021.
GOBARDHAN (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) is aimed at ensuring cleanliness in villages and generating wealth and energy by converting cattle dung and solid agricultural waste into biogas, compost, and bio slurry.
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Whereas, SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) is aimed at setting up of industrial scale Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants and make it available for use in automotive fuel.
“Both the ambitious schemes were launched by two ministries of Government of India (Petroleum & Natural Gas and Jal Shakti ministry) in 2018,” explained Prof. DC Baruah, Head of the Department of Energy and Coordinator of the e-Conclave.
“Biogas technology is a prospective circular economy system, which is the need of the hour considering the mandates for Sustainable Development Goals, climate change mitigation and most importantly increasing the self-reliance on domestic energy generation,” said Prof. Baruah.
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Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed the e-Conclave through a video message.
He applauded the contributions of the Department of Energy, Tezpur University for the research and promotional works in the field of renewable energy.
He also appreciated the initiative of the department to organize the e-Conclave observing that it has been a timely intervention, which would motivate and encourage the entrepreneurs of the region to take up ventures under the ambit of the SATAT and GOBARDHAN programmes launched by the Government.
Chief minister Sarma extended his heartiest wishes to the Department of Energy, Tezpur University for the successful completion of 25 years of its existence.
Assam chief secretary Jisnu Barua through his message congratulated the Department of Energy on the successful completion of twenty-five years and assured all possible support of the Government for biogas projects in Assam under SATAT and GOBARDHAN.
Speaking on the occasion, Dinesh Dayanand Jagdale, Joint Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India said the e-Conclave will contribute to the promotion of biogas in Northeast India.
Jagdale also highlighted the different schemes of the Government of India and the provision of schemes for the Northeast region.
Bijay Kumar, General Manager (Alternate Energy), IOCL addressed the gathering highlighting the role of IOCL in the promotion of the SATAT scheme.
Prof. VK Jain, Vice-Chancellor, Tezpur University while delivering his welcome address highlighted the importance of the e-Conclave for the growth of biogas in northeast India.
Director of NERIST, Nirjuli; Director, NIT, Arunachal Pradesh, Director, DRL, Tezpur, Director, NERIWALM, Tezpur; Director, DUIET, Dibrugarh, Director, Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-Energy, Kapurthala, Principal, GIMT, Tezpur were also present in the inaugural programme.
The programme was also attended by faculties and students of the different institutes including IIT Guwahati, Assam Agricultural University, Nalanda University, Cactus Communications, TU Delft University.
There have been 14 technical presentations by experts in six different technical sessions along with two-panel discussions for two days’ e-Conclave.
A range of issues concerning raw materials (sustainable availability, characteristics), operational intricacy, skill manpower, policy, quality standard, technology, organic fertilizer generation and marketing, logistic of cbg storage, handling and marketing pertaining to northeastern region special reference to Assam have been deliberated in the e-conclave.
Besides researchers and academicians, the e-Conclave has also been actively participated by the prospective entrepreneurs having interest to start a commercial venture on compressed biogas (cbg) in the northeastern region.