Last updated : February 23, 2026 7:17 am
Port of Antwerp-Bruges is hosting the world’s first operational ammonia cracker and is actively constructing its hydrogen pipeline network, with strong connectivity ambitions towards Germany by 2030
Port of Antwerp-Bruges is hosting the world’s first operational ammonia cracker and is actively constructing its hydrogen pipeline network, with strong connectivity ambitions towards Germany by 2030
Port of Antwerp-Bruges recently reinforced ties with India during the 2025 Belgian Economic Mission and supported a MoU involving Flanders Investment & Trade, Green H2 India, and Belgian Hydrogen Council to promote renewable hydrogen worldwide. How does the port plan to translate this India-focused MoU into concrete hydrogen initiatives or projects?
The first year of the MoU has already demonstrated its practical value. We focused on building mutual understanding and trust. This included several webinars on hydrogen strategies and project pipelines, participation in the EU Hydrogen Week, and several site visits to Port of Antwerp-Bruges. For instance, there was a visit to the world’s first operational ammonia cracking installation in Antwerp. We were also honoured to welcome India’s MNRE Secretary to Port House which further strengthened the dialogue at policy and industry level.
Looking ahead, the focus shifts clearly to project-oriented cooperation. This includes a visit to India to engage directly with developers such as AM Green in Kakinada, participation in the GH2 Symposium, discussions around potential ammonia import-export corridors, and port infrastructure partnerships. In parallel, Port of Antwerp-Bruges recently has joined GH2’s Green Shipping & Ports Network to work closely with Indian developers, ports, and shipping lines on concrete trade flows.
The MoU signed with Green H2 India and other partners aims to boost renewable hydrogen production and alternative energy collaboration. What specific areas of knowledge exchange, technology transfer or joint project development does Port of Antwerp-Bruges envision with Indian stakeholders?
The MoU provides a framework for cooperation. We see strong value in structured exchanges through webinars, expert missions, roadshows, and port visits. On the technology side, Belgium has a strong hydrogen technology ecosystem. Several Belgian technology suppliers are already active in India, including membrane suppliers and electrolyser manufacturers involved in flagship Indian projects. Through the MoU, we aim to deepen these connections and stimulate additional technology partnerships, pilot projects, and joint innovation between Belgian and Indian companies across hydrogen value chain.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges has supported training and consultancy efforts with Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority. How important is workforce capacity building in hydrogen supply chains for India?
Workforce development is a critical, and sometimes underestimated, success factor in building hydrogen supply chains. Hydrogen and its carriers are not new to ports like Antwerp-Bruges, but scaling them safely and efficiently requires specialised operational, regulatory, and logistics expertise. Through decades of experience Port of Antwerp-Bruges can share best practices in port management, safety frameworks, logistics optimisation, and training models. Our subsidiaries Port of Antwerp-Bruges International and APEC/Flanders Port Training Center can offer tailor made programs and offerings.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges is positioning itself as a major import hub for green hydrogen and hydrogen carriers such as ammonia and methanol from regions with abundant renewable energy. How does the port see this import infrastructure aligning with India’s ambitions to become a hydrogen exporter or supply partner for European hydrogen markets?
Belgium’s ambition is to become a major import hub for green molecules in Northwest Europe aligns perfectly with India’s ambition to become a global production and export hub. Belgium has limited domestic renewable potential, making imports essential for industrial decarbonisation. In Antwerp-Bruges, multiple large-scale ammonia storage and cracking projects are under development with partners such as Air Products, Vopak, Advario, Fluxys, and VTTI. Several of these projects have entered FEED phases and permitting procedures, with 2 FID’s expected hopefully soon and commissioning targeted towards 2029–2030. This timeline aligns well with India’s flagship hydrogen production projects. Port of Antwerp-Bruges is hosting the world’s first operational ammonia cracker and is actively constructing its hydrogen pipeline network, with strong connectivity ambitions towards Germany by 2030.
The port is planning large-scale terminals for ammonia and hydrogen carrier imports by 2027–2028. What role could India play as an export source of green molecules to Antwerp-Bruges and broader European market?
India is emerging as a key long-term partner for Europe’s green molecule supply. The momentum created by the 2025 Belgian Economic Mission, the BHC–GH2 MoU and recent high-level visits is already translating into concrete commercial discussions. We see increasing interest from Indian producers to connect with European offtakers clustered around Antwerp-Bruges. The port’s role is to provide reliable, open-access infrastructure and transparent market conditions that enable these long-distance supply chains to move from concept to reality.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges is active in international coalitions and is a founding member of H2Global Foundation to promote hydrogen trade and market expansion. India, with its focus on building green hydrogen and export capacity, benefit from deeper participation in such global market mechanisms?
H2Global is the leading market creation mechanism in the hydrogen market. With it’s double sided auction, it provides transparency and competition on both producing and off taking side. If we could set up a trilateral window in H2Global India-Belgium-Germany, we could aggregate demand and create benefits of scale.
Given the port’s development of hydrogen infrastructure, how does Port of Antwerp-Bruges envisage integrating or collaborating with Indian ports that are building hydrogen or hydrogen-carrier ecosystems?
Through its subsidiary Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (POABI), the port actively explores advisory, investment, and partnership opportunities worldwide. POABI brings expertise in port development, energy infrastructure, governance models, and operational excellence. Globally, we expect new bunkering hubs for low-carbon fuels to emerge along major shipping routes due to lower energy densities and increased refueling needs. India is strategically positioned to become one of these key hubs. Therefore we are keen to explore collaboration opportunities with Indian ports developing hydrogen and hydrogen-carrier ecosystems.
The port supports innovation projects such as NextGen District and the HyBex hub project for hydrogen trading and balancing. What learnings or models from these initiatives could be relevant for Indian hydrogen hub development?
While not directly transferable, initiatives like NextGen District (our circular economy hub for start and scale ups) demonstrate how ports can create space for industrial-scale innovation, circular economy projects and energy transition technologies. They showcase how regulatory flexibility, infrastructure access, and industrial clustering can accelerate deployment.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges is working with cutting-edge industrial partners on hydrogen value-chain infrastructure with Fluxys, Air Liquide, VOPAK, and VTTI. How might these partnerships translate into India-focused collaborations, including technology transfer, joint ventures or pilot projects?
Our partnerships with companies such as Fluxys, Air Liquide, Vopak, and VTTI create strong bridges to India. Vopak, for example, already operates in India, opening opportunities to link Indian and European terminal developments. Fluxys’ international experience with pipeline joint ventures could be relevant in an Indian context as hydrogen backbone infrastructure develops. Combined with POABI’s capabilities, these partnerships can support joint ventures, pilot projects, and targeted infrastructure development.
In the context of India’s NGHM and export ambitions for green hydrogen and derivatives, what policy frameworks or bilateral agreements would Port of Antwerp-Bruges like to see developed between India and EU?
Concluding a comprehensive EU–India trade framework with hydrogen and energy as a core pillar is essential. Reducing or removing trade barriers for green molecules will be critical for viable import-export corridors. At bilateral level, a dedicated Belgium–India hydrogen MoU could further accelerate cooperation. A joint H2Global window would complement these policy frameworks.
What strategic incentives does Port of Antwerp-Bruges consider essential for streamlining India-Europe hydrogen supply chains?
Key incentives include long-term offtake certainty, transparent pricing mechanisms, aligned certification schemes, and streamlined permitting. Public support instruments should focus on de-risking projects and bridging initial cost gaps until scale effects reduce prices.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges aims to be climate neutral by 2050 and is building a hydrogen economy that supports industrial decarbonisation. How partnerships with Indian ports and industries contribute to shared sustainability outcomes and emissions reduction goals?
Partnerships between Indian producers and European consumers enable optimal allocation of renewable resources globally. India’s strong production potential combined with Europe’s concentrated industrial demand creates a natural production–consumption synergy that maximizes emissions reduction per euro invested.
Key logistical, regulatory, and commercial challenges Port of Antwerp-Bruges has faced in scaling hydrogen and hydrogen carrier infrastructure? How these insights will help Indian ports and policymakers accelerate hydrogen adoption?
Logistically, handling ammonia and methanol is not new for Antwerp-Bruges. These products have moved through the port safely for decades. The challenge lies mainly in scaling volumes. Regulatorily, EU hydrogen legislation is being translated into Belgian law, guided by principles of transparency, non-discrimination, and open access. Adoption is expected in 2026. Commercially, long-term binding offtake agreements remain key. India’s highly competitive production costs are a strong advantage in this respect.
As hydrogen supply chains mature globally through 2025 and beyond, how does Port of Antwerp-Bruges plan to balance domestic European hydrogen demand, imported volumes and collaboration with emerging markets like India?
Belgium has limited domestic hydrogen production potential, making imports indispensable. At the same time, diversification is essential to avoid overdependence. Alongside India, we are exploring supply routes from Namibia, Oman, Brazil, and others.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Port of Rotterdam are both positioning themselves as major European hydrogen and hydrogen-carrier (ammonia/methanol) hubs. How does Antwerp-Bruges differentiate its value proposition with Port of Rotterdam?
In this respect, European ports are rather complementary and not purely competitive. For Indian partners, the most important factors are infrastructure readiness, regulatory clarity, industrial demand, and logistics connectivity. These are all areas where Port of Antwerp-Bruges offers a very strong value proposition.
Port of Rotterdam has invested heavily in hydrogen infrastructure, pipeline networks and bunkering. How is Antwerp-Bruges tailoring its port infrastructure and service offerings to compete effectively for Indian green hydrogen/ammonia volumes?
In Antwerp-Bruges, multiple large-scale ammonia storage and cracking projects are under development with partners such as Air Products, Vopak, Advario, Fluxys, and VTTI. Several of these projects have entered FEED phases and permitting procedures, with 2 FID’s expected soon and commissioning targeted towards 2029–2030. All these projects are among the most advanced in Europe.
Looking ahead to 2030, what shared benchmarks or project milestones would Port of Antwerp-Bruges like to achieve with Indian counterparts?
By 2028–2030, we aim to see the first fully operational hydrogen and ammonia import corridors. This marks the transition from strategy papers to real molecules flowing, from ambition to execution.