September 6, 2025

Get ready for a green revolution at VOC Port in Thoothukudi! On a power-packed Friday, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone for a pilot green methanol bunkering and refuelling facility worth ₹35.34 crore. With a 750 m3 capacity, this project supports alternative fuels and ties perfectly with the Coastal Green Shipping Corridor planned between Kandla and Tuticorin. It's set to make VOC Port a shining hub for green fuel bunkering, says an official release. But wait, the green wave didn’t stop there! The Minister also unveiled the base for a 6 MW wind farm costing ₹59.20 crore. This wind power boost will support VOC Port’s grand Net-Zero mission, aiming for cleaner skies. Adding to the infrastructure muscle, a new Multi-Cargo Berth No.10, costing ₹90 crore, is set to handle 10 million tonnes with a deadweight tonnage of 1,25,000. The green energy fiesta continued with the launch of India’s first green hydrogen pilot project at VOC Port, established at ₹3.87 crore. Sarbananda Sonowal said this project will produce green hydrogen to power streetlights and electric vehicle charging inside the port colony. That’s a giant leap towards eco-friendly port operations! More goodies came with the inauguration of a 400 KW rooftop solar power plant costing ₹1.46 crore. This pushes VOC Port’s rooftop solar capacity to a record-breaking 1.04 MW, the highest among Indian ports! The Minister also cut the ribbon for a smart link conveyor worth ₹24.50 crore, connecting Coal Jetty-I to the port coal stack yard. The conveyor will improve coal handling, reduce vessel turnaround time, and increase port capacity by 0.72 million tonnes per annum. On top of all this, foundation stones were laid for a 3.37 km, 4-lane concrete road costing ₹34.77 crore and the Tamil Nadu Maritime Heritage Museum, a ₹3 crore pride project. The event also witnessed key MoUs signed by VOC Port Authority with IPRCL for rail connectivity to the Outer Harbour project and with NTPC to promote Green Mobility initiatives at the port. With this massive boost in green energy, modern infrastructure, and sustainable projects, VOC Port is sailing full steam ahead to become a beacon of clean and green ports in India!

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Tags: Voc port, Green hydrogen, Renewable energy, Sipcot, Sarbananda sonowal, Green fuels,