CEF Group Secures €38 Million from German Export Finance Bank to Build Two Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plants.

Banking & Finance

On 1 August 2025, the German Export Finance Bank (a state-backed Export Credit Agency – ECA) approved €38 million (approx. ₹345 crore) in blended equity and debt financing to CEF Group – a cleantech startup in India. This strategic funding will boost the development of Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants under India’s clean energy drive.


      - The €38 million funding will finance the development of two Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants by CEF Group (Clean Energy Fuels Group). These plants are part of CEF’s larger vision of deploying 22 CBG units across India, converting agricultural waste, municipal solid waste (MSW), and industrial residues into clean, renewable gas.

      - Established in 2018, CEF Group operates in alignment with the SATAT Scheme (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation)—an initiative launched by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) to promote the production and use of CBG as a green transport fuel. This aligns with India’s goals of reducing carbon emissions and boosting rural entrepreneurship.

      - CEF currently has three ongoing projects nearing completion: two MSW (Municipal Solid Waste)-based plants in Jammu and Ahmedabad, and a press‑mud-based plant in Western Uttar Pradesh. Press-mud is a by-product of sugar mills. The new funding will enable faster construction of the next two biogas plants.

Main Point :-   (i) The project supports the circular economy by converting organic waste into valuable resources like CBG, Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), and organic compost. These biogas plants will create rural jobs, provide additional income for farmers, reduce methane emissions, and cut India’s dependence on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and fossil fuels.

      (ii) This marks a landmark cross-border partnership between India and Germany in climate finance. The role of Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) like the German Export Finance Bank strengthens clean tech investment ecosystems and fosters public–private partnerships (PPPs) critical for sustainable energy infrastructure in the Global South.


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