Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla Port) has advanced methanol bunkering capabilities as part of a strategic move to decarbonise the maritime sector and align with the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The initiative focuses on adopting low-carbon alternative fuels including e-methanol and e-ammonia and on developing infrastructure to support cleaner shipping operations.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, described the initiative as reflecting India’s commitment to sustainable maritime growth under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Located on India’s western coast, Kandla Port has long handled grey methanol as cargo and already possesses compatible infrastructure such as tank storage, pipelines and jetties, on which it is now building dedicated methanol bunkering capabilities.

Kandla Port engaged DNV Maritime Advisory Services to assess readiness of existing infrastructure and regulatory and safety frameworks, and was rated at Level six on the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) Port Readiness Level (PRL) scale for methanol bunkering. On two April 2026 the port conducted a shore-to-ship methanol bunkering trial in collaboration with partners including Stolt Tankers, J M Baxi, Aegis Vopak, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Deendayal Port Authority, validating bunker transfer processes, safety systems and regulatory compliance, with DNV conducting on-site verification against global best practices.

The port is working towards ensuring the availability of approximately 500,000 t per annum of Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO)-compliant e-methanol by 2028-29 to support deep-sea dual-fuel vessels on the Asia-Europe trade corridor. Plans for ship-to-ship bunkering form the next operational phase, and the development is expected to strengthen India’s role in emerging green shipping corridors while opening opportunities for investment, technology collaboration and job creation that will support long-term economic growth and a more resilient maritime ecosystem on the path to net-zero by 2050.