Sonowal Reviews Green Shipping Push, Urges Ports to Prepare for Clean Fuels

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday visited The Energy and Resources Institute's (TERI) Gwal Pahari campus in Gurugram to review ongoing green shipping initiatives, underscoring the ministry's focus on maritime decarbonisation.

During the visit, Sonowal was briefed on the work of the National Centre of Excellence for Green Ports and Shipping (NCoEGPS), which is tasked with supporting the ministry's efforts to reduce emissions across the sector. The centre presented its mandate, ongoing projects, and future plans aimed at advancing clean maritime practices.

A key part of the review centred on the development of green shipping corridors and the readiness of Indian ports to handle alternative fuels. The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) also presented its work on low- and zero-emission shipping corridors, outlining efforts to accelerate the adoption of cleaner fuels and technologies across the shipping ecosystem.

Three major ports — Deendayal Port Authority, Paradip Port Authority, and V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority — presented progress on setting up Green Fuel Bunkering Hubs, detailing steps to strengthen infrastructure for alternative and green marine fuels. Separately, Kamarajar Port Limited reported that its coal terminals are now equipped with shore power facilities, allowing berthed vessels to draw electricity from land instead of running onboard engines, thereby cutting emissions at the port.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said green shipping is no longer a choice but the direction the world is moving in, and that India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, intends to lead from the front. He stressed that ports must become ready for the fuels of tomorrow and that institutions like TERI are critical partners in accelerating that transition.

The minister added that initiatives ranging from shore power at coal terminals to bunkering hubs for green fuels bring India closer to a maritime sector that is cleaner, more competitive, and future-ready. He described the effort as a whole-of-ecosystem endeavour involving ports, research partners, and industry.

The visit concluded with an interaction session between the minister, senior ministry officials, and stakeholders from the participating ports and institutions. The review comes as the ministry steps up efforts to build green shipping corridors and bunkering capacity, aligning India's maritime sector with global decarbonisation timelines.