India is negotiating reduced import duties on green hydrogen and a streamlined export process for green molecules to European ports as part of its ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) discussions with the European Union (EU), a top government official said on June 19, reports Moneycontrol.
SK Sarangi, secretary in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, said that the talks include provisions to ease the shipment of green hydrogen and its derivatives to key European ports, especially Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Antwerp in Belgium. “India is in discussions with Europe, specifically the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, to ensure that green hydrogen and its derivatives exported to these countries are transported smoothly,” Sarangi told reporters on the sidelines of an industry event.
Green molecules—such as green hydrogen and green ammonia—are a new class of clean fuels and chemicals made using renewable energy. They have a low carbon footprint and are considered crucial for the global energy transition. India is positioning itself as a major exporter of these sustainable fuels to Europe, where demand is growing.
The green hydrogen discussions fall under the broader India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership (CECP), which was established in 2016. The partnership aims to promote clean energy access, facilitate technology exchange, and support joint research and development in areas like offshore wind, rooftop solar, energy storage, smart grids, and energy efficiency in buildings.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently reaffirmed India’s commitment to sealing an FTA with the EU. Speaking at a CEOs meeting in Cyprus on June 16, Modi said, “Last month, there was an agreement between India and the UK on an ambitious FTA. Now, we are committed to completing an FTA between India and the EU by the end of the year. Talks have picked up pace. Its benefits will be available to all of you.”
India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission aligns closely with the EU’s Hydrogen Strategy, and both sides are working to deepen collaboration in clean energy. The proposed FTA is expected to boost this cooperation and open new opportunities for trade and investment in green technologies.
