AVTL, a joint venture between Aegis Logistics Limited and Vopak India, a subsidiary of Netherlands-based Royal Vopak, has revealed plans to build India¡¯s first independent ammonia storage terminal. The brownfield facility will be developed at an existing site in Pipavav, located on the west coast of Gujarat. The terminal, with a capacity of approximately 36,000 metric tons, is scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2026.

The project, fully funded by AVTL, involves an investment of about €53 million (INR 5.3 billion). The terminal will operate as a third-party storage facility, primarily supporting ammonia imports for the fertilizer industry. Additionally, AVTL aims to explore ammonia¡¯s role as a carrier for hydrogen, recognizing its potential in advancing clean energy and sustainable infrastructure.

AVTL officials stated: ¡°The terminal is going to support green ammonia exports, too, as a means to give speed to India¡¯s own transition toward cleaner energy and more sustainable infrastructure.¡± This aligns with India¡¯s broader decarbonization goals, where ammonia is seen as a key sustainable fuel, though its adoption remains in early stages.

In May 2023, India¡¯s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways released the Harit Sagar Green Port guide, outlining plans to develop green ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen bunkering infrastructure. The guide sets a target for all major Indian ports to have green hydrogen refueling facilities by 2035.

Related initiatives include a March 2025 memorandum of understanding signed by a Japanese consortium, comprising IHI Corporation, Hokkaido Electric Power, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Mizuho Bank, and Tokyo Century Corporation, to explore investment in a green ammonia production site in India. This facility aims to produce 400,000 tons of green ammonia annually for transport to Japan.

Additionally, in early June 2025, Hygenco Green Energie began construction on a green ammonia plant in Gopalpur Industrial Park, Odisha. The first phase, set for completion by 2027, will produce 600 tonnes per day, with plans to double capacity by early 2028 and reach 1.1 million tonnes per annum at full operation.

The Pipavav terminal represents a significant step in enhancing India¡¯s ammonia infrastructure, supporting both domestic needs and global clean energy efforts.

by offshore energy