Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) has completed what it claims is India’s first methanol bunkering demonstration at Kandla port.

The port authority described the operation as a step towards maritime decarbonisation.

"Shore-to-Ship "Methanol Bunkering" trial carried out @ DPA, Kandla today," commented Sushil Kumar Singh, DPA Chairman, in a LinkedIn post on 2 April.

"A Big Thank-you to M/s. Stolt Tankers, JM Baxi, Aegis VOPAK and Indian Oil Corp. Ltd., for their participation in the joint exercise today," Singh added.

Deendayal Port Authority, formerly Kandla Port Trust, is located on the Rotterdam–Singapore green shipping corridor. The port has initiated site work for India’s first 150 tonnes per day e-methanol plant in partnership with Assam Petrochemicals Limited and has also issued tenders for a port-integrated biomethanol production facility.

Back in February, Emvolon highlighted India’s large but underutilised biogas resources, estimated at up to 90 billion cubic metres (cbm) per year. The alternative fuels producer proposed distributed biogas-to-biomethanol facilities located at landfills, agricultural clusters, food processing centres and wastewater treatment plants, feeding into a national biomethanol supply chain linked to ports.

DPA operates Kandla port in Gujarat, located on India’s western coast, which handles a range of cargo, including petroleum products, chemicals, and dry bulk commodities.