The Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) in Kandla, Gujarat, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT BHU Varanasi), recently organized a one-day workshop on “Hydrogen – Next Generation Fuel: Pathway & Challenges” at the DPA Centre of Excellence in Gandhidham.
The event underscored the growing significance of Ports-Academia-Industry partnerships in driving India’s transition to a greener maritime future. It brought together officials from major Indian ports, industry leaders, and subject matter experts, all focusing on the vital role hydrogen could play in decarbonizing the maritime sector and supporting India’s Net Zero 2050 ambitions.
According to a post shared by DPA on X (formerly Twitter), the workshop aimed to explore the potential of hydrogen as a clean, next-generation fuel. It emphasized how such collaborations are essential for promoting sustainable energy solutions within the maritime domain.
“Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla in collaboration with @IITBHU_Varanasi organised a One-Day Workshop on ‘Hydrogen – Next Generation Fuel: Pathway & Challenges’ at DPA’s Centre of Excellence, Gandhidham,” read the DPA’s post. “Promoting Ports-Academia-Industry collaboration for a greener future. Attended by officials from all major ports, industry leaders, and experts, the workshop highlighted hydrogen’s role in shaping India’s green maritime future.”
DPA Kandla Leading India’s Green Hydrogen Push
DPA has taken proactive steps in promoting green hydrogen as a key component of its sustainable development strategy. A 1 MW green hydrogen plant has already been commissioned at Kandla as part of a broader 10 MW project.
Leading industrial players such as Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Reliance Industries are currently working with DPA to establish giga-scale green hydrogen and green ammonia plants in the region, underlining the port’s strategic importance in the emerging green energy landscape.
In recognition of these efforts, the Government of India has officially designated DPA Kandla as a green hydrogen hub, aligning it with national goals under the National Green Hydrogen Mission and Maritime India Vision 2030.
Strategic Importance of Kandla Port
Located on the Gulf of Kutch, DPA Kandla is one of India’s major ports on the western coastline. Built in the 1950s to serve western India after the partition left the Karachi port in Pakistan, Kandla has grown into a critical logistics hub. It lies near the city of Gandhidham in the Kutch district of Gujarat.
Future Outlook: Building a Green Maritime Ecosystem
On August 15, during the 79th Independence Day celebrations, DPA Chairperson Sushil Kumar Singh reaffirmed the port authority’s commitment to expanding its role in clean energy.
Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the flag-hoisting ceremony, Singh stated:
“Kandla Port is also taking initiatives to boost the methanol, green ammonia, and green hydrogen sectors, aiming to establish a large ecosystem and secure a place on the global maritime map.”
He emphasized that DPA Kandla is actively working to develop an integrated ecosystem for green hydrogen, green ammonia, and green methanol, with the involvement of key industry players.
“The Government of India has declared Deendayal Port Authority as a green hydrogen hub, and we are aiming to promote the entire green hydrogen ecosystem,” Singh added. “Major industrial partners like L&T, Reliance, and others are in the process of setting up giga-scale green hydrogen and green ammonia plants.”
As India accelerates toward a low-carbon economy, DPA Kandla’s initiatives reflect the strategic role that ports will play in shaping the country’s green maritime infrastructure and energy independence.
