India’s transition toward cleaner marine fuels is gaining momentum with a bio-methanol project at Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla set to cater to the growing demand for green bunkering solutions in the shipping sector.
The project will produce bio-methanol using biomass feedstock, including Prosopis juliflora, and is aimed at supporting low-carbon fuel adoption across Indian ports and international shipping routes. The initiative comes as global shipping lines increasingly shift toward methanol-capable vessels to comply with tightening emission regulations.
Kandla Port has already conducted India’s first shore-to-ship methanol bunkering trial, marking a significant step in the country’s alternative marine fuel infrastructure development. Industry stakeholders expect demand for methanol bunkering to rise steadily as shipowners invest in dual-fuel fleets and ports expand green fuel capabilities.
India’s strategic location on major global trade corridors, combined with government-backed initiatives promoting green shipping fuels, is expected to position the country as an emerging methanol bunkering hub in Asia.
The project also aligns with India’s broader maritime decarbonisation strategy, which focuses on alternative fuels such as green methanol, ammonia, hydrogen and biofuels to reduce shipping emissions and strengthen long-term energy security.