**Executive Summary**
On April 2, 2026, Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla Port) successfully conducted a shore-to-ship methanol bunkering trial, marking a pivotal step toward India’s 2050 net-zero maritime emissions goal. The initiative focuses on establishing green shipping corridors and targets the availability of 500 KTPA of e-methanol by 2028-29. This advancement positions Kandla Port as a central hub for sustainable fuel along the Asia-Europe trade corridor.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Strategic Objectives and Decarbonization**
* **Net-Zero Goals:** The initiative aligns with the maritime sector's target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and the "Viksit Bharat by 2047" vision.
* **Alternative Fuels:** Focus is placed on adopting low-carbon fuels, specifically e-methanol and e-ammonia, to reduce greenhouse gas intensity.
* **Global Positioning:** The development aims to strengthen India’s role in emerging global trade corridors and green shipping initiatives.
**Operational Achievements and Infrastructure**
* **Successful Trial:** A shore-to-ship methanol bunkering operation was completed on April 2, 2026, validating transfer processes and safety protocols.
* **Readiness Rating:** Kandla Port received a Level 6 rating on the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) Port Readiness Level (PRL) scale.
* **Leveraging Assets:** The port is utilizing its existing infrastructure, including pipelines, jetties, and tank storage previously used for grey methanol, to develop dedicated bunkering capabilities.
**Future Development Roadmap**
* **Supply Targets:** The port aims to ensure the availability of approximately 500 KTPA of Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO)-compliant e-methanol by 2028-29.
* **Operational Expansion:** Following the shore-to-ship success, the next phase of development will focus on ship-to-ship methanol bunkering.
* **Trade Route Support:** The infrastructure is designed to support deep-sea, dual-fuel vessels operating on the Asia-Europe trade corridor.
**Impact Analysis**
**Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla Port)**
**Impact**
The port is transforming into a sustainable hub for innovation, enhancing its global competitiveness and efficiency while creating opportunities for investment and job creation.
**Action Required**
Continue developing dedicated bunkering facilities and transition from shore-to-ship to ship-to-ship operational capabilities.
**Maritime Shipping Companies and Vessel Operators**
**Impact**
Operators of deep-sea and dual-fuel vessels will have access to necessary low-carbon fuels required to navigate green shipping corridors along the Asia-Europe route.
**Action Required**
Align fleet operations with the available 500 KTPA e-methanol supply by 2028-29 to meet international sustainability goals.
**Industry Partners (Stolt Tankers, IOCL, J M Baxi, Aegis Vopak)**
**Impact**
These entities are integrated into a collaborative ecosystem for technical validation, safety compliance, and the scaling of alternative fuel logistics.
**Action Required**
Maintain collaboration on technical verification and safety frameworks to ensure alignment with global best practices for methanol bunkering.
**Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways**
**Impact**
The successful trial reinforces the Ministry’s commitment to sustainable maritime growth and long-term economic development.
**Action Required**
Continue overseeing regulatory and safety framework assessments to maintain high Port Readiness Levels across national maritime assets.
Key Entities Referenced
Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla Port): The primary maritime authority and location on India’s western coast that successfully pioneered shore-to-ship methanol bunkering trials.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW): The central ministry overseeing India's maritime sector decarbonization efforts and the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Sarbananda Sonowal: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways who is spearheading the initiative to establish India as a global hub for green shipping.
IAPH Port Readiness Level (PRL) scale: An international standard framework used to assess and validate the port's regulatory, safety, and infrastructure readiness for methanol bunkering.
Viksit Bharat by 2047: The national policy vision cited as the driver for the maritime sector's transition toward sustainable infrastructure and global competitiveness.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Kandla Port Advances Methanol Bunkering,
Marks Key Step Toward Green Maritime
Transition
“India Moves Closer to Net-Zero Maritime Future as Kandla
Pioneers Methanol Bunkering:” Sarbananda Sonowal
Posted On: 09 APR 2026 7:32PM by PIB Delhi
In a significant move toward decarbonising the maritime sector, Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla Port)
has advanced its methanol bunkering capabilities, positioning itself as a key player in India’s energy
transition efforts and global green shipping corridors. Aligned with the maritime sector’s goal of achieving
net-zero emissions by 2050, the initiative focuses on adopting low-carbon alternative fuels such as e-
methanol and e-ammonia to reduce greenhouse gas intensity in shipping.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal said the initiative
reflects India’s firm commitment to sustainable maritime growth under the leadership of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
“This milestone at Kandla Port demonstrates India’s resolve to lead the global transition towards green
shipping. By embracing cleaner fuels like methanol and building future-ready infrastructure, we are
aligning our maritime sector with international sustainability goals while enhancing efficiency and
competitiveness. This is an important step towards our journey to become one of the top maritime nation
in the world as we move towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047,” Sarbananda Sonowal
said.
Located on India’s western coast, Kandla Port has long handled grey methanol as cargo and already
possesses compatible infrastructure, including tank storage, pipelines and jetties. Building on this
foundation, the port is now actively developing dedicated methanol bunkering capabilities.
To assess readiness, Kandla Port engaged DNV Maritime Advisory Services to evaluate existing
infrastructure and the adequacy of regulatory and safety frameworks. Following the assessment, the port
was rated at Level 6 on the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) Port Readiness Level
(PRL) scale for methanol bunkering.
On April 2, 2026, Kandla Port successfully conducted a trial shore-to-ship methanol bunkering operation
to validate infrastructure and operational protocols. The exercise was carried out in collaboration with
industry partners including Stolt Tankers, J M Baxi, Aegis Vopak, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. and
Deendayal Port Authority. The trial validated key elements such as bunker transfer processes, safety
systems, and regulatory compliance. The DNV team conducted on-site verification, confirming alignment
with global best practices for methanol bunkering.The Union Minister added that the development would strengthen India’s position in emerging global
trade corridors and support long-term economic growth.
“Our ports are evolving into hubs of innovation and sustainability. Initiatives like methanol bunkering not
only reduce emissions but also open new opportunities for investment, technology collaboration and job
creation, reinforcing India’s meaningful contribution to the emerging global maritime sector. This
reinforces the effort to become net zero emissions by 2050, a vision of PM Narendra Modi ji,”
Sarbananda Sonowal said.
The port is now working toward ensuring the availability of approximately 500 KTPA of Renewable Fuels
of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO)-compliant e-methanol by 2028-29. This supply is expected to support
deep-sea, dual-fuel vessels operating along the Asia-Europe trade corridor.
Following the successful shore-to-ship trial, Kandla Port plans to undertake ship-to-ship methanol
bunkering in the next phase, further strengthening its operational capabilities. Kandla Port’s progress is
expected to play a critical role in establishing India as a key hub in emerging green shipping corridors,
contributing to a cleaner, more resilient and future-ready maritime ecosystem.
***
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