In a move to expedite India’s goal of becoming a significant player in the global hydrogen market, the Ministry of Shipping and Ports has identified three key ports—Kandla, Paradip, and Tuticorin—as focal points for the export of green hydrogen, green ammonia, and green methanol within the next seven years.
The primary objective now is to establish the essential infrastructure at these ports, facilitating the storage, handling, and bunkering of these eco-friendly fuels and their derivatives. India’s ambitious target is to create a capacity for exporting approximately 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen and its derivatives annually by the year 2030.
This strategic initiative aligns with the objectives outlined in the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which seeks to harness hydrogen’s potential in various industrial sectors, including fertilizers and petrochemicals. Furthermore, hydrogen derivatives, as a low-carbon fuel alternative, have immense potential in transportation sectors like shipping, metro rail, and trains.
Sources said that the Odisha government is currently in the process of allocating land in the vicinity of Paradip Port to manufacturers specializing in green hydrogen and its derivatives. The port authority is also planning to develop shared infrastructure facilities for the green hydrogen project, including the dedicated handling of ammonia and its derivatives. To support these efforts, a grant of Rs 325 crore has been requested from the Ministry of Shipping.
Meanwhile, the Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla has taken an innovative step by inviting global Expressions of Interest (EOI) to gauge the interest and participation of developers and market players in the production, storage, and sale of green hydrogen and green ammonia.
In a similar vein, the VOCPA port in Tuticorin has allocated a substantial 500 acres of land for the establishment of a green hydrogen hub. Port authorities have submitted a proposal to the government, seeking grant and viability gap funding to facilitate the development of the necessary infrastructure.