In a landmark step towards decarbonising India’s maritime sector, V. O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port in Thoothukudi has become the first Indian port to successfully produce green hydrogen and generate over 1 MW of rooftop solar power, according to Susanta Kumar Purohit, Chairperson of VOC Port.
Purohit announced during a media briefing held on the sidelines of a one-day conference titled Green Ports and Shipping – Chartering Sustainable Maritime Future, hosted under NAVIC Cell-3, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ dedicated wing for green initiatives and pollution control.
The event is part of a larger series of workshops and roadshows building up to India Maritime Week 2025, scheduled for October in Mumbai. These sessions are designed to highlight the country’s advancements in maritime sustainability, policy innovation, and green infrastructure.
Purohit said that VOC Port’s shift to cleaner alternatives is already yielding results. “We’re not stopping at solar and hydrogen,” he noted. “A 750 cubic metre green methanol bunkering facility is in the pipeline, and a project to produce 25 tonnes per day of green methanol from municipal solid waste is already underway.”
Two key sessions at the conference explored critical issues: decarbonisation of the maritime sector and green financing and policy frameworks. The gathering brought together industry leaders and policymakers, including Vijay Kumar, Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India, who delivered the keynote address.
Vijay Kumar stressed the need for coordinated action to hit India’s net-zero emissions target by 2070. He said the ministry was actively driving initiatives like renewable energy adoption, equipment upgrades, and the use of low-emission fuels, including LNG, ammonia, and hydrogen.
Top officials from TERI, Indian Maritime University, and the VOC Port Authority joined the discussion, reinforcing a shared vision: to position Indian ports as global leaders in sustainable maritime practices.
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