Suzuki Biogas Plants in Gujarat: Two New Projects Begin

On October 30, Suzuki Motor Corporation and its wholly owned Indian subsidiary, Suzuki R&D Center India, conducted foundation stone-laying ceremonies for two new biogas plants in Tharad and Radhanpur, Gujarat. The facilities are scheduled to commence operations in or after 2027, marking another step in Suzuki's planned expansion of biogas production in the state. The projects form part of the company's broader plan to establish nine biogas plants in Gujarat, building on facilities that have already started operations in the region.

Suzuki has already commenced operations at three biogas plants located in Agusara, Bhukhara and Vinchhivadi in the Banaskantha region. The two newly announced facilities will further expand this network, supporting the company's efforts to develop biogas production using locally available rural resources. Through these projects, Suzuki aims to establish a production system that connects agricultural resources, renewable fuel generation and the automotive sector.

The new facilities are being developed under the Japan-India CBG (Cooperative Biogas for Growth) Initiative, which was agreed during Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi's visit to India in July 2026. The initiative supports India's target of establishing 1,000 biogas plants, providing a framework for cooperation between the two countries in expanding biogas production. Suzuki's projects in Gujarat contribute to this broader initiative through the development of additional production facilities.

Suzuki is developing its biogas business in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board, Banas Dairy and other partners. The planned plants will use rural resources, including cattle dung, to produce biogas and organic fertiliser. This approach combines the utilization of locally available agricultural resources with the production of alternative fuel and agricultural inputs. The resulting biogas is intended to support the company's automotive business, while the organic fertiliser generated during production will be used to improve agricultural soil.

Suzuki plans to utilise the biogas as fuel for CNG vehicles, which account for approximately 40% of the company's automobile sales in India. This provides a direct connection between its alternative fuel development activities and its existing vehicle business. In addition to fuel production, Suzuki intends to use the plants' by-products as organic fertiliser to improve soil conditions for agriculture. The company's approach therefore combines biogas production, CNG vehicle fuel applications and the utilisation of agricultural by-products within its wider business activities.

Industry Impact & Outlook

Suzuki's Gujarat biogas projects demonstrate an approach to connecting rural resource utilisation with alternative automotive fuels and agricultural applications. The planned use of cattle dung for biogas production, together with the utilisation of organic fertiliser by-products, establishes a link between the dairy and agricultural sectors and the automotive industry. The company's intention to use the resulting biogas in CNG vehicles is particularly relevant given that these vehicles account for approximately 40% of its automobile sales in India. With nine plants planned in Gujarat and three already operational, the projects represent Suzuki's contribution to the Japan-India CBG Initiative and India's broader target of establishing 1,000 biogas plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where are Suzuki's two new biogas plants being developed?
Suzuki's two new biogas plants are being developed in Tharad and Radhanpur in Gujarat, India. Suzuki Motor Corporation and its wholly owned Indian subsidiary, Suzuki R&D Center India, held foundation stone-laying ceremonies for both facilities on October 30. The projects are part of the company's broader plan to establish nine biogas plants in Gujarat. Their development will expand Suzuki's existing biogas operations in the Banaskantha region and support the production of alternative fuel and organic fertiliser using locally available rural resources.

2. When will Suzuki's new biogas plants in Gujarat begin operations?
Suzuki's two newly announced biogas plants in Tharad and Radhanpur are scheduled to begin operations in or after 2027. The foundation stone-laying ceremonies took place on October 30, marking the start of the projects' development. The facilities will become part of Suzuki's planned network of nine biogas plants in Gujarat. The company has already started operations at three facilities in Agusara, Bhukhara and Vinchhivadi in the Banaskantha region. The source does not specify exact commissioning dates for the two new plants.

3. What is the Japan-India CBG Initiative?
The Japan-India CBG (Cooperative Biogas for Growth) Initiative is a bilateral initiative supporting India's target of establishing 1,000 biogas plants. It was agreed during Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi's visit to India in July 2026. Suzuki's new biogas facilities in Gujarat are being developed as part of this initiative. The projects contribute to the broader effort by expanding biogas production infrastructure through cooperation involving Suzuki, Indian organisations and other partners. The initiative provides the framework within which these projects are being developed.

4. What raw materials will Suzuki's biogas plants use?
Suzuki's biogas plants will use rural resources, including cattle dung, to produce biogas and organic fertiliser. The company is developing its biogas business in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board, Banas Dairy and other partners. This production approach uses locally available resources to generate alternative fuel and agricultural inputs. The biogas is intended for use as fuel in CNG vehicles, while the organic fertiliser produced as a by-product will be used to improve agricultural soil. The source does not specify additional feedstock materials or production capacities.

5. How will Suzuki use the biogas produced at its Gujarat plants?
Suzuki intends to use the biogas generated at its Gujarat facilities as fuel for CNG vehicles sold in India. CNG vehicles currently account for approximately 40% of the company's automobile sales in the country, making biogas relevant to its existing vehicle business. Alongside fuel production, the facilities will generate organic fertiliser as a by-product, which Suzuki plans to use to improve agricultural soil. The strategy connects renewable fuel production with automotive applications and agricultural resource utilisation without specifying the expected volume of biogas or fertiliser.