Deendayal Port Authority is poised to become a Green Hydrogen Hub: Sarbananda Sonowa

Gandhidham, Gujarat, Jan 07, Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, visits Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla, Gandhidham, Gujarat today, and said, “Deendayal Port Authority is poised to become a Green Hydrogen Hub, a pivotal step towards achieving India’s decarbonization goals and fostering a sustainable future”.
The Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India, graced the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) with a visit today, marking a momentous occasion for the maritime sector in India. The visit underscored DPA’s unwavering commitment to sustainable development, infrastructure modernization and the realization of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, aligning with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
The Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, laid the foundation stone for two Centres of Excellence (CoE) dedicated to Green Hydrogen and Green Maritime Fuels, in the august presence of Vinodbhai Chavda, MP (Kutch-Morbi), Maltiben Maheswari, MLA (Gandhidham), Sushil Kumar Singh, IRSME, Chairman (DPA), Nandeesh Shukla, IRTS, Dy. Chairman (DPA), M. Rammohan Rao, IRS, Commissioner (Customs-Kandla), Mahesh Puj, President (Gandhidham Chamber of Commerce & Industries), Rahul Modi, Member (National Shipping Board), prominent stakeholders, port users, trade unions & officials of DPA.
These Centres, located in Gandhidham, aim to drive, innovation and global collaboration while fostering entrepreneurship in green energy technologies. The Centres will also serve as platforms for training and stakeholder engagement, solidifying Gandhidham’s position as a global knowledge hub for green maritime initiatives.
The Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, also inaugurated key developmental projects of DPA during the visit: Inauguration of Harbour Mobile Cranes for efficient cargo handling.  Inauguration of Telescopic Gangway at Oil Jetty-8, for streamlining operations. Inauguration of Waste Recycling Plant for Gandhidham Municipal Corporation, a significant step towards environmental conservation & Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Inauguration of Kendriya Vidyalaya School Building, emphasizing the port’s commitment to education and community development.
Furthermore, the Minister PSW presided over the signing of MoUs and agreements between DPA and the leading organizations as under:
MoU with NTPC for the mobility of green hydrogen buses.
Agreement with L&T for a 1MW Hydrogen Technology Demonstration Plant.
During the visit, the Hon’ble Minister also chaired a high-level B2B meeting with key stakeholders of green hydrogen. The meeting facilitated an open dialogue on opportunities for collaboration, technology adoption and investment in green hydrogen production, storage and logistics. The Hon’ble Minister emphasized the critical role of public-private partnerships in achieving India’s sustainability goals and driving innovation in the energy sector.
In his address, the Hon’ble Minister lauded DPA’s stellar performance, emphasizing its record-breaking growth rate of 10.05%, the highest among all Major Ports in the country. The Port’s remarkable operational efficiency has led to significant milestones, including crossing the 110 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) mark 30 days ahead of the previous year and handling an unprecedented 354 vessels in a single month.
Highlighting the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the Hon’ble Minister stated, “Deendayal Port Authority is poised to become a Green Hydrogen Hub, a pivotal step towards achieving India’s decarbonization goals and fostering a sustainable future. DPA’s initiatives, including the allocation of 3400 acres for green hydrogen production facilities, development of renewable energy infrastructure and the establishment of desalination plants, are commendable.”
The Hon’ble Minister also released a manual on Bio-Methanol, reinforcing the government’s green initiatives. He also distributed appointment letters to compassionate appointees of DPA’s Traffic Department.
In a meeting with stakeholders, the Hon’ble Minister expressed gratitude for their contributions to DPA’s growth story and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to position DPA as a global maritime leader.
The visit concluded with a heartfelt felicitation of the Hon’ble Minister by Port Users and Stakeholders, reflecting the port community’s collective aspirations for excellence in maritime operations.