Assam and Gujarat launch massive e-methanol plant at Kandla Port

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal broke ground at Deendayal Port in Kandla, Gujarat. The officials gathered for the foundation stone-laying and Bhoomi Pujan ceremony for a high-capacity e-methanol production plant. It is a major push for green energy. This joint venture between Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited and the Deendayal Port Authority carries an estimated investment of Rs 2,300 crore.

The facility will produce 150 tonnes of e-methanol every day. Annual output should reach 50,000 tonnes once the site hits full capacity. This fuel serves as a low-carbon alternative for the maritime sector. It helps lower carbon emissions across the shipping industry. The first phase requires over Rs 1,200 crore to get off the ground.

The project will generate more than 3,500 direct and indirect jobs. This move allows the state-owned APCL to expand its operations far beyond the borders of Assam. It gives the company a national stage to prove its technical and commercial strength. Speaking at the event, Sarma noted, "The project as a significant development for the state, noting that an Assam-based public sector undertaking was extending its operations beyond the state and contributing to India’s clean-energy transition." The leaders hope this collaboration pushes India toward its broader energy goals.