Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone for an e-methanol plant at Deendayal Port Authority in Kutch district on September 26. The facility is planned with a capacity of 150 t per day.

The foundation ceremony marked the start of a project positioned as part of the development of green energy infrastructure at the port. The plant is expected to support the wider use of e-methanol, while also creating employment opportunities across the country, according to Sonowal’s remarks at the gathering.

Sonowal also highlighted Gujarat’s longstanding role in India’s maritime sector. He said the state’s maritime history extended over more than 5,000 years, underlining its continuing importance to the country’s port and shipping activities.

The Union minister further noted the global standing of Kandla port, which is operated by Deendayal Port Authority. Kandla ranks as the seventh-largest port globally, according to the information presented at the event.

Patel described Deendayal Port as a crucial maritime gateway for India. He said the port was being developed rapidly as a green hydrogen hub, indicating a broader shift towards cleaner energy and maritime operations in the region. The e-methanol project forms part of the port’s emerging green energy focus, although no details of its investment, construction schedule or commissioning date were provided.