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The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) in Tuticorin revealed that it has entered into 28 agreements with major players in the green-energy space, totaling investments exceeding around INR 1.27 lakh crore (over USD 15 billion). The key pacts include a storage facility for green ammonia with Green Infra Renewable Energy Farms Private Limited (a part of the Sembcorp group) valued at INR 25,400 crore; a green ammonia production plant with ACME Green Hydrogen and Chemicals Private Limited (1,200 MTPD) worth INR 12,000 crore; and a 300 TPD facility with CGS Energy Private Limited valued at INR 5,000 crore. These moves build on the port's earlier pilot green-hydrogen and renewable-energy efforts, and signal a pivot towards becoming a green-hydrogen hub in southern India.
The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA), located in Tuticorin, recently announced the signing of 28 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with leading companies in the green-energy space, representing a total investment commitment of over INR 1.27 lakh crore. The agreements aim to strengthen the port's role in India's renewable-energy transition, with a particular focus on green hydrogen and ammonia production and storage. Advertisement
One of the most notable partnerships is with Green Infra Renewable Energy Farms Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Sembcorp Group, for the development of a large-scale storage and tanking facility for green ammonia and other hydrogen derivatives. The investment for this project is pegged at around INR 25,400 crore. Another significant MoU was signed with ACME Green Hydrogen and Chemicals Private Limited, which plans to set up a 1,200 MTPD green ammonia production facility, requiring an investment of INR 12,000 crore. Additionally, VOCPA entered into an agreement with CGS Energy Private Limited to establish a 300 TPD green ammonia plant at a cost of about INR 5,000 crore.
VOCPA stated that these projects are expected to strengthen the port's position as a future-ready green hydrogen hub for southern India. According to its chairman, Susanta Kumar Purohit, the agreements cover diverse areas such as port-led industrialisation, renewable and alternative fuels, and the integration of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence into port operations. He mentioned that the initiatives will likely attract significant investment inflows and create employment opportunities in the region. Purohit also noted that the port is progressing with plans for an outer harbour, as part of its broader effort to evolve into what he described as a 'port of the future.'
The MoUs were formalised during India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai, a major event that saw several Indian ports committing to projects in the renewable-energy and maritime-infrastructure sectors. The government has been encouraging ports to integrate sustainability goals into their long-term development strategies, with a focus on green hydrogen, decarbonisation, and digital transformation in operations.
VOCPA's latest agreements build on its earlier work in renewable energy. The port previously launched India's first port-based green-hydrogen pilot project, which currently powers streetlights in the port colony. It has also expanded its renewable-energy footprint with rooftop solar installations and wind-power projects, contributing to its target of becoming a net-zero port. Over the years, the port formerly known as Tuticorin Port has grown into a major trade hub in southern India, handling both bulk and container cargo. It has also been preparing for expansion through the development of an outer harbour and the deepening of its channels to accommodate larger vessels.
With these latest commitments, VOCPA is positioning itself as a key player in India's emerging clean-energy supply chain. The port's shift from conventional cargo handling toward supporting production, storage, and export of green fuels reflects a strategic transformation in India's port-sector outlook.
Source PTI
5th Jun, 2025
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