The foundation
stone will be laid by Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat; Sarbananda
Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; and Himanta Biswa
Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam. The
ceremony will also be attended by Vinodbhai Chavda, Member of Parliament, Kutch-Morbi;
Maltiben Maheshwari, Member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, Gandhidham;
Sushil Kumar Singh, IRSME, Chairman, Deendayal Port Authority; and Bikul Deka,
Chairman, Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited.
The proposed project involves an investment of approximately ₹2,300
crore and brings together APCL’s industrial capabilities and DPA’s strategic
maritime infrastructure. The plant is planned as a scalable facility and is
aimed at increasing the availability of e-Methanol as a cleaner marine fuel for
the maritime sector. Located at
Deendayal Port, one of India’s major maritime gateways, the project is expected
to support the transition towards cleaner fuels and more sustainable shipping
operations, including international maritime routes. It is also intended to
contribute to reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and strengthening
India’s energy self-reliance. The
project is expected to generate more than 3,500 direct and indirect employment
opportunities, benefiting skilled workers, engineers, youth, transporters,
suppliers and other associated sectors. It is also likely to create new
business opportunities and contribute to the economic development of the Kutch
region. The initiative aligns with the
Government of India’s focus on green energy, sustainable port development,
cleaner marine fuels and energy security. The DPA-APCL partnership brings
together the industrial strengths of Assam and the maritime infrastructure of
Gujarat to support the development of India’s emerging green-fuel ecosystem. The foundation stone laying ceremony marks
a significant step in DPA’s efforts to promote cleaner fuels, sustainable
maritime growth and a greener future for India.