Andhra Pradesh IT & Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh laid the foundation stone for Reliance New Energy’s Integrated Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant near Divakarapalli village, P.C. Palli Mandal, Kanigiri constituency on April 1.. This milestone project, spanning 475 acres, marks the beginning of a major investment plan by Reliance in Andhra Pradesh, with a total investment of Rs.65,000 crore aimed at generating 2.5 lakh jobs across the state.
The event saw the presence of Reliance Industries Director P.M.S. Prasad, Reliance Industries Limited AP & TS Mentor P.V.L. Madhava Rao, and Reliance Bioenergy CEO Harindra K. Tripathi
“This project is not just about energy but about empowering farmers and creating large-scale employment,” Lokesh stated. The plant will utilize Napier grass for biogas production, ensuring a stable income for farmers, with lease payments of Rs.15,000 per acre for government land and Rs.31,000 per acre for private land. Farmers will also receive a fixed price for the grass they cultivate, strengthening the agricultural economy.
Reliance’s investment plan includes the establishment of 500 CBG plants across Andhra Pradesh, with Kanigiri emerging as a central hub. Five CBG plants are specifically planned in this region, utilizing 500,000 acres of barren land across Prakasam, Anantapur, Chittoor, and Kadapa. Once fully operational, these plants will produce 1.1 million metric tons of organic fertilizer annually.
Lokesh assured that Andhra Pradesh is on the path to becoming a clean energy leader, with the first phase of the Reliance CBG project setting the benchmark. He pointed out that this development fulfills a promise made during the Yuvagalam Padayatra to boost Prakasam’s industrial and employment landscape.
Reliance is developing four major CBG hubs across India, with Prakasam playing a pivotal role. The government has already allocated 5,000 acres of land in the district, including 497 acres in Kanigiri, to support this initiative. Lokesh announced that the foundation stone for Kanigiri IIIT will also be laid soon, reinforcing the region’s growth trajectory.
Lokesh highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s industrial potential, pointing out that global giants like Reliance, NTPC, ArcelorMittal, BPCL, Tata Power, TCS, and LG Electronics are eager to invest. He reiterated his commitment to creating 20 lakh jobs over the next five years as part of the government’s vision for rapid economic growth.
The foundation stone-laying event was attended by key government officials, including Ministers Gottipati Ravi Kumar, Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Dola Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, Chief Secretary Vijayanand, Prakasam District Collector Tamim Ansariya, Transco JMD Keerthi Chekuri, MLAs, MLCs, and Reliance executives.