• Source:JND
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Patna: The Urban Development and Housing Minister, Jibesh Kumar Mishra, announced on Sunday that Bihar will soon begin generating electricity from city waste. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Bihar Renewable Energy Expo 2025 in Patna, Mishra said that 15 MW of electricity will be produced using waste collected from 11 municipal bodies, including Patna. The project, which will operate under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, is estimated to cost Rs 513 crore. The central government has already contributed 33 percent of the funding, with the remaining amount to be invested by private companies.

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A new plant will also produce ethanol and fertilisers in addition to generating electricity. The residual waste from the production process will be utilised as landfill. Speaking at the event, the minister emphasized the importance of public representatives in supporting government initiatives like the PM Surya Ghar Yojana. He also stressed the need for coordinated efforts among various departments to ensure the success of such projects.

At the event, Amir Subhani, Chairman of the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission, stated that the commission will take into account suggestions from industry stakeholders while formulating regulations. Rahul Kumar, Managing Director of North Bihar Power Distribution Company, projected that Bihar’s electricity demand would rise to 18,000 MW by 2034–35, highlighting the urgent need to scale up renewable energy production. He noted that solar panels have already been installed on 11,700 government buildings across the state.

During the expo, experts deliberated on the application of solar energy in agriculture and cold storage solutions. Horticulture Director Avishek Kumar shared that a new Cold Storage Policy has been submitted for approval, aiming to establish cold storage facilities in every block. Dr. Anant Kumar from the Bihar Council on Science and Technology pointed out that many farmers remain unaware of solar energy schemes and recommended organizing awareness camps in engineering colleges throughout Bihar.

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The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Amarnath Jaiswal, General Secretary of the organising association, in the presence of several distinguished guests.