India wants to position itself as green refuelling hub in the coming decade.
Speaking at a green hydrogen conference yesterday, union minister for power and new and renewable energy RK Singh said: “Globally, shipping will go green within 10 years. So, we have to emerge as a refuelling destination for all green ships, since we can provide them green hydrogen or green ammonia or whatever fuel they want at the lowest cost.”
Singh said local shipyards ought to develop specific bunker barges for the new fuels emerging and for the nation to carry out pilot schemes for green shipping developments created on home soil.
Pilots for green steel and in heavy duty transportation are already underway in India.
India will face intense competition as a green ship fuelling destination from the existing bunkering giants in the region, namely Singapore and China to its east and Fujairah to the west, but is putting emphasis on the fact it aims to develop the fuels domestically rather than having to buy them in.