Guwahati: Assam is set to get its first compressed biogas (CBG) plant through a collaboration between Japan’s Suzuki R&D Centre India, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Purabi Dairy. The project aims to convert dairy and agricultural waste into clean fuel and organic fertiliser, promoting sustainable farming while creating an additional source of income for dairy farmers.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project was signed in New Delhi on July 2 in the presence of Suzuki Motor Corporation President Toshihiro Suzuki and NDDB Chairman Dr Meenesh Shah. The agreement was signed by NDDB Executive Director S. Rajeev, North East Dairy and Foods Ltd. (NEDFL) Managing Director Satya Brata Bose, and Suzuki R&D Centre India Director Kenichiro Toyofuku.
North East Dairy and Foods Ltd. (NEDFL), a joint venture between the Assam government and NDDB that operates Purabi Dairy, will develop and manage the proposed facility. NDDB will provide technical expertise, while Suzuki R&D Centre India will invest in the project and receive carbon credits generated through reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
The plant will process cattle dung and other agricultural residues to produce compressed biogas, an environmentally friendly fuel that can be used as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels in transport and industrial sectors. In addition, the by-product from the process will be converted into organic fertiliser, supporting soil health and encouraging sustainable agricultural practices.
Apart from contributing to Assam’s clean energy goals, the project is expected to strengthen the state’s circular economy by transforming agricultural waste into valuable resources. It will also provide dairy farmers with an additional revenue stream by creating economic value from waste that would otherwise go unused.
NDDB Chairman Dr Meenesh Shah said Assam and the Northeast are well known for their naturally sustainable farming systems. He noted that the initiative would further promote environmentally friendly agriculture while improving the livelihoods of dairy farmers through an integrated circular economy model.
Suzuki Motor Corporation President Toshihiro Suzuki said the company is already associated with nine biogas projects across India, including two operational plants in Gujarat. He added that the Assam initiative reflects Suzuki’s commitment to supporting the governments of India and Japan in expanding the country’s biogas ecosystem.
Purabi Dairy Managing Director Satya Brata Bose described the project as a landmark initiative that would accelerate Assam’s transition towards cleaner energy and sustainable development. He said it also reinforces Purabi Dairy’s commitment to empowering farmers while promoting environmentally responsible growth.
Expected to be the first compressed biogas plant in Assam, the project represents a significant step in strengthening the India-Japan partnership while advancing clean energy, sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods in the state.