Maruti Suzuki invests in CBG plants as a pathway to reduce carbon emissions in India

Maruti Suzuki India has identified compressed biogas (CBG) as a key method for reducing carbon emissions, with its MD and CEO calling it a powerful pathway toward India's net-zero goal by 2070. The company is investing in nine CBG plants, two of which are already operational, to produce methane-rich fuel from agricultural and organic waste that can be used in CNG vehicles without modification. CBG offers a domestic alternative to imported natural gas, which now meets over half of India's demand. However, a Deloitte study cited in the article notes that poor pipeline connectivity, feedstock shortages, and high transport costs remain major barriers to scaling up CBG. Most CBG is currently moved by road in high-pressure cylinders, limiting its economic reach. Maruti's multi-pathway strategy includes EVs, hybrids, CNG, and flex-fuel vehicles alongside CBG. The government's SATAT initiative aims to support CBG adoption by providing long-term purchase agreements through oil marketing companies, but infrastructure gaps still need to be addressed for the fuel to become a significant part of India's energy mix.