India’s Largest MSW–to–CBG in Nagpur is scheduled to become operational by March 2026

Nagpur is set to achieve a national milestone with the upcoming commissioning of India’s largest municipal solid waste-to-compressed biogas plant based on dry anaerobic digestion technology. The project at Bhandewadi is progressing steadily and is expected to be fully operational by March 2026, marking a transformative shift in urban waste management.

Progress of the Bhandewadi Waste-to-Energy Project

The plant spans 30 acres of municipal land and has reached cold commissioning despite construction delays caused by an extended monsoon. Authorities have granted a four-month extension, allowing phased hot commissioning to begin soon. The facility represents a key initiative supported by central and state leadership with strong administrative oversight.

Technology and Capacity Highlights

Developers have built a 1,500 MTPD processing capacity against the mandated 1,000 MTPD, anticipating future waste growth. The dry fermentation technology, proven through an on-site pilot in 2024, allows efficient digestion of India’s mixed waste stream. This design places the plant among the world’s largest dry anaerobic digestion facilities and a first in India at such scale.

Environmental and Operational Advantages

Dry anaerobic digestion requires low energy input and delivers high CBG yields while minimising landfill dependency. The facility is projected to convert up to 600 TPD of organic waste into biogas, create substantial RDF output, and restrict inert material to below 10%. Automation and stringent engineering standards strengthen operational reliability.

Exam Oriented Facts

• The plant uses dry anaerobic digestion, a first at large scale in India.
• Total capacity constructed: 1,500 MTPD; mandated capacity: 1,000 MTPD.
• Cold commissioning completed; full commissioning targeted for March 2026.
• The project operates on a zero-tipping-fee, zero-discharge financial model.

Financial Model and Civic Impact

The privately financed project follows an uncommon structure that imposes no processing cost on the municipal body while generating royalty income. With the capability to treat the entirety of Nagpur’s daily waste, the facility is reshaping the Bhandewadi region and demonstrating how urban centres can convert waste challenges into sustainable energy assets.