MNRE Secretary reviews Green Energy projects at VOC Port

Santosh Kumar Sarangi, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Central Government, visited V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority on May 28 and reviewed various renewable energy and green infrastructure initiatives undertaken by the Port.
During the visit, the Port exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bureau Veritas (India) Pvt. Ltd. for collaboration in Green Port certification, emissions accounting, ESG reporting, safety validation, development of green bunkering practices and establishment of a Centre of Excellence for green fuels and sustainability.
Another MoU was exchanged with AM Green Ammonia (India) Private Limited for the development of a green ammonia production plant with a capacity of one million tonnes per annum at Thoothukudi. The initiative also includes development of green ammonia handling, storage and bunkering infrastructure, pilot bunkering operations, safety procedures and training programmes.
The project is expected to support the development of green fuel corridors connecting VOC Port with major ports in Europe and Asia, strengthening India’s position in the global green fuels value chain.
The MoUs were exchanged in the presence of Santosh Kumar Sarangi by Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson of V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, Shatanshu Agrawal, Vice President, Business Development, AM Green Ammonia (India) Private Limited, and N. Krishna Babu, Area Manager, Bureau Veritas (India) Pvt. Ltd.
The MNRE Secretary reviewed the Port’s major renewable energy and sustainability projects, including the pilot green hydrogen plant, EV charging station and the ongoing 9 MW wind power project. He also inspected the upcoming 750 cubic metre green methanol bunkering and refuelling facility at the Port.
Sarangi later visited the Port’s operational areas and the Digital Twin facility, where officials demonstrated the virtual model technology used for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance and operational decision-making.
Speaking on the occasion, Santosh Kumar Sarangi said the green initiatives undertaken by VOC Port in solar and wind energy, green hydrogen and methanol manufacturing and bunkering had emerged as a model for green transition at both national and global levels. He appreciated the Port’s efforts towards achieving net zero status by 2026.
Susanta Kumar Purohit said the visit of the MNRE Secretary would further strengthen the Port’s renewable energy and sustainable maritime development initiatives. He added that the Port’s projects in green ammonia, hydrogen and alternative marine fuels reflected its commitment towards sustainability and the country’s carbon emission reduction goals under the Panchamrit commitments announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the COP-26 conference at Glasgow.
The details were released in a press statement issued by the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority.