VOC Port in Tamil Nadu will be India’s first green hydrogen hub, contributing to the development of a green port ecosystem and serving as a transshipment center. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate 36 transformative projects costing more than Rs 17,000 crore, including six at Tamil Nadu’s two ports. The Outer Harbour Container Terminal project, at Rs 7,056 crore, will establish the port as a key transshipment hub, expanding container capacity and benefiting the state economy.
The VOC Port in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, will become India’s first green hydrogen hub by developing an ecosystem of green ports and emerging as a transshipment hub when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches numerous initiatives on February 28, according to Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. He also stated that Chennai would serve as the gateway to the Eastern Maritime Corridor to Vladivostok, Russia, increasing bilateral trade between the two countries.
He also stated that Chennai would serve as the gateway to the Eastern Maritime Corridor to Vladivostok, Russia, increasing bilateral trade between the two countries.
“Tomorrow, PM Modi will lay the groundwork for 36 transformative projects totaling over Rs 17,000 crore, inaugurate them, and dedicate them to the nation. “This is a step toward Viksit Bharat @ 2047,” Sonowal told reporters here.
The prime minister would launch, lay the groundwork for, or dedicate approximately 30 projects under his Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways totaling Rs 10,324 crore, he stated. Six of these projects, totaling Rs 7,587 crore, are concentrated on Tamil Nadu’s two ports.
“Only a few years ago, our prime minister promised that the government will take steps to establish VOC Port as the transshipment hub on India’s east coast. “This guarantee will be fulfilled tomorrow,” Sonowal stated.
According to PTI, VOC Port’s Rs 7,056 crore Outer Harbour Container Terminal project will establish it as a significant transshipment hub on India’s east coast. This project will greatly increase the VOC Port Authority’s container capacity and boost the state economy, he stated.
Furthermore, it would save logistical costs and time, resulting in annual savings of thousands of crores.
The VOC Port will be India’s first green hydrogen production hub on a big scale. The union minister stated that 500 acres of land have already been reserved, and a memorandum of understanding has been inked with NTPC to establish a green hydrogen production facility.
According to PTI, Cochin Shipyard Limited’s indigenously produced hydrogen fuel cell ferry, Atmanirbhar Bharat, will be launched for the first time in the country. This zero-emission, zero-noise vessel is a game changer for India’s future as a hydrogen fuel vessel maker, according to him.
The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) will convert the two existing ships to run on green hydrogen, with the goal of converting at least half of all tugs to green tugs by 2030, he said.
The Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor would dramatically cut the time required to transport freight between India and Far East Russia by up to 16 days – from 40 to 24 days – while also lowering the distance by up to 40%.
Currently, the distance between Mumbai Port and the Port of St. Petersburg via the Western Sea Route via the Suez Canal is 16,066 km, whereas the distance from Chennai Port to Vladivostok Port via the Eastern Maritime Corridor is only 10,458 km, he said, adding that this would significantly reduce logistics costs while also greatly increasing cargo transportation efficiency between the two countries.
