Bihar’s Green Flame: New Rs 340 Crore LPG Plant in Gopalganj Promises Cleaner, Safer Energy for Millions

Gopalganj/Patna: In the quiet town of Hathua, a transformative energy project is taking shape — one that could power not just homes, but a cleaner, greener future for vast swathes of north-west and north-central Bihar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the facility at Hathua — a Rs 340.15 crore project that aims to ease the burden of fuel access for people across Gopalganj, Siwan, Bettiah, and surrounding districts. For many households still dependent on firewood or irregular LPG supply, the plant could be a game-changer.

With the capacity to fill over 1,80,000 metric tonnes of cylinders annually, the facility is expected to cut delivery delays, stabilise supply chains, and boost local availability, especially during festivals and peak seasons when shortages often hit hardest. For homemakers like Shanti Devi in nearby Tiwari Chakiya, this means fewer hours spent queueing at dealers or returning empty-handed.

“This is not just a plant,” said a local official. “This is about dignity in the kitchen — no more smoke, no more uncertainty.”

What sets this plant apart is not just its scale — 1,80,000 metric tonnes per annum bottling capacity — but its eco-conscious design. Equipped with mounded storage vessels, an electronic 2×24 station carousel, and an integrated rail siding for seamless logistics, the facility embodies the intersection of technological efficiency and environmental responsibility.

Once operational, the plant is expected to cut annual carbon emissions by 11,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ equivalent — the same as planting half a million trees. At the same time, its construction phase will generate 1.2 lakh man-days of employment, injecting momentum into local economies and skill ecosystems.

The project is being implemented by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL), India’s second-largest oil marketing company, which has committed to achieving Net Zero status by 2040. Officials say the new facility aligns with the twin goals of expanding clean energy access and ensuring last-mile delivery in rural India.

The plant also aligns with India’s efforts to ensure every household has access to clean cooking fuel, as seen under the Ujjwala scheme. Officials say this move will not only reduce dependency on polluting fuels like firewood and kerosene but also free up time, improve health, and lower daily expenses for women and families.

With a target completion date of March 2027, the Hathua plant is more than an infrastructure milestone — it’s a promise of timely refills, safer homes, and empowered women in the heart of Bihar.