BW LPG India is honored to be the energy partner of the Akshaya Patra Foundation. A partnership which began in 2023, our relationship has grown from strength to strength, with the fourth and latest Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed at a small but meaningful ceremony at the Puducherry kitchen in September 2024.
Beginnings of an energy partnership: Supporting 9 kitchens in 2 states in 2023, and 12 kitchens in 3 states in 2024
BW LPG India and the Akshaya Patra Foundation signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) for BW LPG India to support the Foundation as an Energy Partner for nine centralized kitchens in the States of Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, for the period December 2023 – March 2024. What was initially a trial arrangement to see if our support for the energy use of central kitchens could be implemented transparently and without too much administrative burden on the Foundation, the partnership has grown, fueled by a shared belief that energy – in the from of food for children, and power for kitchens and cooking – can uplift communities. For the financial year 2024-2025, BW LPG India signed another MOU to support 12 kitchens in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Through this collaboration, BW LPG India supported the cooking of ~11.6 million midday meals for children from >2,200 schools in the first phase; and is supporting the cooking of ~43 million meals for children from 2,700 schools in the second phase.
The expansion of our support in FY 2024-2025 is testament to a partnership which has exceeded expectations in terms of outreach to the community.
Supporting the delivery of our promise in Rajasthan: Dining Sheds for Mid-day Meals for two schools
BW LPG India representatives visited two schools in Bikaner, Rajasthan in late 2023 as part of efforts to understand the impact of our CSR programs on the ground. While both schools were adequately supported by local community leaders and government, BW LPG India received requests for dining sheds to be built to improve hygiene conditions and provide a better standard of care for students and staff. BW LPG India leaned on the network and operational strength of the Foundation to deliver on our promise of dining sheds for the two schools. Over four months, the Foundation supported the building of dining sheds in two schools in Bikaner to benefit over 600 students and staff. An open-air multi-purpose dining sheds equipped with fans, handwashing station, as well as new utensils were built and provided. Female washrooms were also refurbished as part of the project. These infrastructure provide improved hygiene during mealtimes, added security for school property, and a sheltered area for play.
An exciting pilot project: replacing briquettes with LPG in Puri
In October, BW LPG India is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with the Foundation – we signed another MOU (our fourth in less than a year) to introduce cleaner, greener LPG-powered equipment at its central kitchen in Puri, Odisha. This initiative replaces traditional briquette-powered systems and marks a significant step forward in the Foundation’s sustainability journey. Representing both parties’ commitment, BW LPG India’s Director Gaurav Bhatia and The Foundation’s Chief Sustainability and Communication Officer Dhananjay Ganjoo were present at the MOU signing ceremony held at the Foundation’s Puducherry office.
Puri is home to the revered Jagannath Mandir and the magnificent Sun Temple at Konârak. This pilot conversion project aligns with the Foundation’s efforts to honor and preserve the cultural and environmental significance of the region, and BW LPG India’s corporate purpose to deliver energy for a better world. Serving 38,000 daily meals to local schools from the Puri kitchen, timing and care are essential to ensure that our children remain our top priority during this transition. We are proud to support The Akshaya Patra Foundation in this innovative energy conversion project, leading the way to a more sustainable future. BW LPG India will sponsor the costs to install a new Liquid Off Take (LOT) system comprising two boilers, one vaporizer and required equipment such as filters and valves at the Puri kitchen. We will also commit to sponsoring the operational energy costs of the converted kitchen for the next five years.
As part of the Puducherry visit program, representatives from BW LPG India and Akshaya Patra Foundation toured the Puducherry kitchen facilities and visited a school served by the kitchen. In school, the team helped teachers serve the day’s midday meal to students. The Puducherry kitchen is 100% powered by LPG, and we look forward to the Puri kitchen following suit.
Cross-Industry Partnership: From LPG-powered vessels to LPG-powered kitchens
BW LPG India is a subsidiary of BW LPG, the latter whose name is almost synonymous with the use of LPG as marine fuel. In 2020, BW LPG was the first in the world to retrofit of 15 of its Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGC) with pioneering LPG dual-fuel propulsion technology. These LPG-powered vessels continue to make waves in the industry, showing how LPG propulsion can offer environmental, operational and economic benefits. This pilot project by the Foundation — replacing briquette-powered equipment with LPG-powered ones — is a lovely example of cross-industry partnership. We are all partners in the global energy transition and together, we will work towards a more sustainable future for all.
Transforming lives with energy
BW LPG India is honored to support the excellent work being done by the Akshaya Patra Foundation. With our specialization in delivering LPG into India, we want to support the Foundation’s energy needs in their central kitchens as they deliver midday meals to children. When we join forces, we can transform lives with energy. One meal at a time, we are helping to eliminate classroom hunger; and when children are nourished, they can dream big and build a brighter future.
