By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : September 06, 2025 8:45 am
Built at a cost of Rs. 3.87 crore, the 10 Nm³/hr pilot facility will generate green hydrogen to power streetlights and an electric vehicle charging station in the port colony
The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated India’s first port-based Green Hydrogen Pilot Project at V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port, marking a major step in India’s clean energy transition, yesterday.
Built at a cost of Rs. 3.87 crore, the 10 Nm³/hr pilot facility will generate green hydrogen to power streetlights and an electric vehicle charging station in the port colony. With this launch, VOC Port has become the first port in the country to produce green hydrogen.
Sonowal also laid the foundation for a pilot Green Methanol Bunkering and Refuelling Facility of 750 m³ capacity at a cost of Rs. 35.34 crore. Aligned with the proposed Coastal Green Shipping Corridor between Kandla and Tuticorin, the initiative is expected to position VOC Port as a key green bunkering hub in south India.
“The mission of Viksit Bharat at 2047 blends speed, scale, sustainability and self-reliance. The projects launched today will generate thousands of jobs, attract global investments and position Tamil Nadu as a key contributor to India’s economic aspirations. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we continue to make new strides towards achieving our goal of world’s Top 10 shipbuilding nations by 2030, Top 5 by 2047,” said Sonowal.
Additional projects launched include a 400 KW rooftop solar power plant, enhancing the port’s rooftop solar capacity to 1.04 MW, the highest among Indian ports, and a Rs. 24.5 crore link conveyor connecting Coal Jetty-I to the port stack yard, increasing efficiency by 0.72 MMTPA.
Sonowal also laid foundation stones for a 6 MW wind farm, a Rs. 90 crore multi-cargo berth, a 3.37 km four-lane road, and the Tamil Nadu Maritime Heritage Museum.
The Minister highlighted that Tamil Nadu’s three major ports—Chennai, Kamarajar, and VOC—have seen transformative growth under Sagarmala, with 98 projects worth Rs. 93,715 crore taken up in the past 11 years, of which 50 are already completed.
“This is unique growth. More than Rs. 16,000 crore has been invested in these ports alone for modernisation and capacity enhancement,” said Sonowal.
Sonowal paid obeisance to freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaranar on his 154th birth anniversary. Paying floral tributes, Sonowal said, “We are deeply inspired by the legacy of VOC, who ignited the Swadeshi spirit through shipping. Today, under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, we are carrying forward that spirit by strengthening our shipping and port sector with green energy, innovation, and self-reliance.”
“Whatever projects we are adopting here, we are able to complete them on time because of the people’s trust and cooperation. This is how the ministry is functioning — with speed, scale, and commitment to India’s growth,” said Sonowal.
The event also witnessed MoUs between VOC Port and IPRCL for rail connectivity to the Outer Harbour project, and with NTPC for implementing green mobility initiatives at the Port. The Minister was joined by T. K. Ramachandran, Secretary, MoPSW along with other top officials of the Ministry and the Government of Tamil Nadu.