India's search for improved energy security is taking an unusual turn, and it starts with something the country has in extraordinary abundance: cow poop. Instead of letting livestock waste decompose, one Suzuki-backed project is transforming it into compressed natural gas that powers everything from passenger cars to auto-rickshaws in the nation. According to Bloomberg , it's one of the clearest examples yet of how India hopes to reduce fuel imports while putting agricultural waste to work.
The Banas Suzuki Bio-CNG facility in Gujarat processes roughly 88 tons of cattle waste every day, producing renewable compressed natural gas that sells for around 80 rupees ($0.93) per kilogram. That's more than 20 rupees cheaper than gasoline in some parts of India, making it an attractive alternative for drivers—especially those already using CNG-powered vehicles.
The project is a partnership between Suzuki and Banas Dairy, one of Asia's largest dairy cooperatives. Farmers across 16 villages supply cattle waste, earning about one rupee per kilogram, while the resulting gas fuels an estimated 600 to 700 vehicles each day. The leftover waste isn't wasted, either; instead, it's processed into organic fertilizer and returned to local farms.
All of this is picking up steam as India is doing all it can to diversify its energy supply following the disruptions caused by the current conflict in the Middle East. Earlier this month, Japan and India signed a strategic plan calling for the construction of 1000 new biogas plants; on top of that, Indian officials are also considering higher payments for biogas producers, to encourage investment.
Suzuki sees the effort as more than an environmental project. Instead of waiting for fuel suppliers to produce more CNG , it's trying to build out the ecosystem itself. Tesla did something similar with its Supercharger network, and there's no doubt that move has played a large role in the EV maker's success.
That said, this scaling up to 1000 new plants won't be easy. Current biogas production remains only a tiny fraction of overall demand, and building collection networks, processing plants, and distribution infrastructure will require billions in investment. Even so, if India can solve those logistical challenges, one of its oldest agricultural byproducts could become an increasingly important part of its transportation future.
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