"Suzuki R&D Centre Partners with NDDB to Invest in Biogas Subsidiary"

Suzuki R&D Centre India Pvt Ltd (SRDI), a fully owned subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, has entered into an agreement with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to invest in its biogas subsidiary, NDDB Mrida. The partnership, formalized on Wednesday, will support Mrida's efforts in promoting household-level biogas plants and managing a large-capacity dung-based biogas plant that provides energy for a dairy facility. Mrida also produces organic fertilizers under the Sudhan brand, utilizing slurry from the biogas process. The exact amount of SRDI’s investment has not been disclosed.

Mrida, a joint venture between NDDB and SRDI, aims to provide clean energy and organic fertilizers, reducing the use of chemical fertilizers through dung-based biogas models. Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman of NDDB, called the partnership a significant milestone, highlighting the collaboration between the dairy and automobile sectors. He noted that the initiative would create more value for dairy farmers by efficiently utilizing dung to produce clean energy and fertilizers while promoting a circular economy.

Toshihiro Suzuki, President of Suzuki Motor Corporation, also visited Mujkuva village in Anand, where he toured farmer households with biogas plants and solar pumps, and met with dairy farmers to understand their operations. This partnership follows SRDI’s previous collaboration with NDDB to establish dung-based compressed biogas plants in Gujarat. Currently, four such plants are under development in Banaskantha district in partnership with Banas Dairy, with additional plants planned in collaboration with Amul Dairy, Dudhsagar Dairy, and other cooperatives.

HBL