Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated a green hydrogen pilot facility at VOC Port, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated India’s first port-based Green Hydrogen Pilot Project at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin, on 5 September 2025. Built at a cost of ₹3.87 crore, the 10 Nm³/hr facility will power streetlights and an EV charging station within the port colony, making VOC Port the first in the country to produce green hydrogen.
The Minister also laid the foundation for a ₹35.34 crore Green Methanol Bunkering and Refuelling Facility with a 750 m³ capacity, aimed at positioning the port as a green bunkering hub in south India. Aligned with the proposed Coastal Green Shipping Corridor between Kandla and Tuticorin, the project is expected to boost sustainable shipping.
Additional launches included a 400 KW rooftop solar plant, taking total solar capacity to 1.04 MW, the highest among Indian ports, along with a ₹24.5 crore link conveyor to enhance coal handling efficiency. Sonowal also announced new projects such as a 6 MW wind farm, a ₹90 crore multi-cargo berth, and a Maritime Heritage Museum. Paying tribute to VOC on his 154th birth anniversary, he reaffirmed India’s shipbuilding vision for 2030 and 2047.
Source: PIB
