V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) convened the India Green Fuel Conclave ’26 on September 17, 2026, bringing together senior government officials, industry leaders, technology providers, international organisations and experts to deliberate on India’s emerging green fuel ecosystem and the evolving role of ports in enabling green methanol and green ammonia production, bunkering and exports.
The Conclave, themed around “VOCPA’s Anchor Role in India’s Green Methanol and Green Ammonia Export Ecosystem,” focused on translating India’s green maritime and green hydrogen ambitions into actionable pathways for production, infrastructure development, offtake, bunkering and international trade.
The inaugural session featured Vijay Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, and Venkatesapathy S., IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, who shared their addresses virtually on India’s green maritime and green fuel vision. Debi Prasad Dash, IRSEE, Principal Advisor, and P. Raveendran, IRTS, Principal Advisor, also shared their perspectives on India’s green fuel ecosystem, port readiness and the role of the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson, VOCPA, formally opened the Conclave and set the context for the discussions, while Debi Prasad Dash outlined the path ahead and connected the broader national vision with VOCPA’s ongoing green fuel initiatives.
A key focus of the Conclave was VOCPA’s emerging role as an anchor for green fuel exports. Discussions examined the port’s readiness in terms of land, power, water and CO2 feedstock, and its potential position within the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Sessions also examined the transition from pilot initiatives to operational methanol bunkering, including technical, regulatory and implementation requirements.
The Conclave further examined the changing global regulatory and market landscape for green fuels. Experts from S&P Global discussed FuelEU Maritime trajectories, greenhouse-gas intensity requirements and their implications for fuel-switching decisions along the India-Europe corridor. A session by RMI highlighted emerging demand signals from Europe and East Asia and explored pathways for converting market interest into assured and bankable offtake for green methanol produced through the VOCPA ecosystem.
A major highlight of the Conclave was the panel discussion on the India-EU Green Fuel Corridor: Moving Into Execution, which brought together representatives from GH2 India, Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA), GIZ and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. The session examined offtake commitments, demand aggregation, financing structures and the alignment of India’s production ambitions with emerging European demand. The session also included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between VOCPA and ITA, marking a step towards strengthening international cooperation and visibility for India’s green fuel ambitions.
The Conclave also featured a dedicated discussion on creating scale for green methanol exports from India, bringing together representatives from Hero Future Energies, Dalmia Bharat Sugar and Industries Limited, and Oriana Power. The discussion covered project timelines, feedstock linkages, pricing considerations and partnerships required to develop reliable green methanol offtake and bunkering hubs.
Another key session focused on green ammonia offtake hubs, with participation from AM Green, Hygenco Green Energies, Gentari-Petronas and ReNew. The discussion examined project development, pricing competitiveness, terminal readiness and international procurement mechanisms required for Indian ports to support the emerging green ammonia market.
The Conclave also provided a platform to discuss developments at India’s designated Green Hydrogen Hub ports, with officials from VOCPA and Paradip Port Authority sharing updates on infrastructure development, project milestones and implementation experiences. The technology session subsequently examined key enablers such as desalination, water treatment, biomethanol loops and process and utility systems required to scale green hydrogen, ammonia and methanol production at port-based hubs.
The programme concluded with closing remarks by Debi Prasad Dash, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Rajesh Soundararajan, IAS, Deputy Chairperson, VOCPA.
As part of the Conclave, delegates also participated in a VOCPA Port Tour, covering the Methanol Bunkering Site, VOCPA Heritage Museum and GH2 Site. The site excursion provided participants with an opportunity to view existing infrastructure, ongoing developments and potential locations for future green fuel terminals and bunkering operations.
The India Green Fuel Conclave ’26 brought together perspectives across government, industry, technology, finance and international partnerships, with discussions centred on strengthening the link between green fuel production, port infrastructure, domestic and international offtake, bunkering and export corridors. Through the Conclave, VOCPA reaffirmed its engagement with stakeholders across the green fuel value chain and its efforts to contribute to the development of India’s emerging green maritime and green fuel ecosystem.
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