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, here today.
Built at a cost of ₹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.
Shri Sonowal also laid the foundation for a pilot Green Methanol Bunkering and Refuelling Facility of 750 m³ capacity at a cost of ₹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 Shri Narendra Modi ji, we continue to make new strides towards achieving our goal of world’s Top 10 shipbuilding nations by 2030, Top 5 by 2047,” Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said.
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 ₹24.5 crore link conveyor connecting Coal Jetty-I to the port stack yard, increasing efficiency by 0.72 MMTPA.
Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal also laid foundation stones for a 6 MW wind farm, a ₹90 crore multi-cargo berth, a 3.37 km four-lane road, and the Tamil Nadu Maritime Heritage Museum.
The Union Minister highlighted that Tamil Nadu’s three major ports—Chennai, Kamarajar, and VOC—have seen transformative growth under Sagarmala, with 98 projects worth ₹93,715 crore taken up in the past 11 years, of which 50 are already completed. “This is unique growth. More than ₹16,000 crore has been invested in these ports alone for modernisation and capacity enhancement,” he said.
Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal paid obeisance to freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaranar on his 154th birth anniversary. Paying floral tributes, Shri Sonowal said, “We are deeply inspired by the legacy of VOC, who ignited the Swadeshi spirit through shipping. Today, under Prime Minister Modi ji’s leadership, we are carrying forward that spirit by strengthening our shipping and port sector with green energy, innovation, and self-reliance.”
The Minister thanked the people of Tamil Nadu and Thoothukudi for their wholehearted support. “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,” Shri Sonowal said.
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 Shri TK Ramachandran, Secretary, MoPSW along with other top officials of the Ministry and the Government of Tamil Nadu.
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