JAPANESE carmaker Suzuki Motor Corporation is producing biogas from cow dung for use as vehicle fuel in India.

Working with India’s National Dairy Development Board and Banas Dairy, Suzuki has launched a biogas demonstration project in Gujarat that converts methane from cattle manure into compressed natural gas (CNG) suitable for cars and motorbikes.

At a newly commissioned plant in Bhukhala, cow dung is fermented for about a month before the resulting gas is refined and sold as fuel via a nearby refuelling station. Residual material from the process is repurposed as organic fertiliser.

The facility processes up to 100 tonnes of dung per day, producing around 1.5 tonnes of biogas—enough to power roughly 850 vehicles daily.

Suzuki purchases dung from local farmers at about one rupee per kilogram, providing an additional income stream estimated at about 72,000 rupees (AUD $1076) annually for an average household.

The initiative targets methane emissions from livestock waste, a potent greenhouse gas with a warming impact significantly higher than carbon dioxide.

By capturing and converting methane into fuel, the project aims to reduce emissions while creating a carbon-neutral energy source.

Suzuki said the model could also support rural job creation, improve waste management and boost energy self-sufficiency in agricultural regions.

CNG-powered vehicles already account for about 20 percent of India’s car market, offering lower emissions than conventional petrol engines. Suzuki is currently operating two biogas plants and plans to build at least seven more as it scales the concept.

Company president Toshihiro Suzuki said the initiative aligns with the company’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality in India while supporting rural communities.

Source: Suzuki