Plans to Create Hydrogen Hubs at Three Major Ports

Padmesh Prabhune

Pic for Representation Purpose only

If everything goes as per plans then the maritime industry could soon witness hydrogen hubs at the ports of Kandla, Thoothukudi, and Paradeep.

While addressing the media after the inauguration of the ‘Global Maritime India Summit 2023 Roadshow Chennai’, T.K. Ramachandran, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, said, “VOC Port in Thoothukudi is poised to become a green hydrogen hub with the additional possibility of also becoming a trans-shipment hub in the future, adding that the plans to create green hydrogen hubs has been initiated in three ports: Kandla, Thoothukudi, and Paradeep.

Elaborating further he said, “Expression of interest was called for, and there was a lot of interest shown for Kandla and Thoothukudi. More than 20 parties have expressed interest, and that includes some of the big names as well. Over one and a half lakh crore of investments are expected in Kandla, and investments to the tune exceeding Rs 50,000 crore are expected in Thoothukudi.”

Stressing further, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said “Under the Sagarmala programme, we have identified 106 projects in Tamil Nadu alone. Of these, 48 projects have already been completed. Twenty-eight projects worth nearly Rs 64,000 crore are under implementation, and 30 projects are in different stages of processing,”

VOC Port expansion has the potential to bring a total economic transformation to the State and the southern region and will create employment opportunities.

-Marex Media