GUWAHATI | Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited (APCL) and the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) have joined hands to develop a Rs 2,300-crore e-methanol production facility at Kandla in Gujarat, marking a major expansion of the Assam government-owned company into the clean-energy sector beyond the state. The foundation stone-laying and Bhoomi Pujan ceremony for the project was held at Deendayal Port in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal.

Senior officials of APCL, DPA and other stakeholders also attended the programme. The proposed facility will have a production capacity of 150 tonnes per day (TPD) of green e-methanol. The fuel is intended primarily for use in the maritime sector as a lower-carbon alternative to conventional marine fuels.

The project is expected to create around 3,500 direct and indirect employment opportunities, besides opening up new industrial and commercial opportunities associated with the production and use of e-methanol. The initiative comes against the backdrop of India’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from the shipping sector and promote cleaner energy sources. E-methanol is being explored globally as a potential alternative marine fuel as the shipping industry moves towards lower-emission operations.

For APCL, the project represents a significant expansion of its operational footprint beyond Assam. The state-owned enterprise will participate in a large-scale clean-energy project in Gujarat, potentially providing it with an opportunity to build expertise and establish a wider commercial presence in the emerging green-fuel sector.

The collaboration with Deendayal Port also places the project close to one of India’s major maritime gateways, offering a strategic location for the production and potential distribution of marine fuel. Speaking at the ceremony, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the project as an important milestone for Assam, particularly because a state-owned public sector undertaking is expanding its operations outside the state. Sarma said the initiative reflected APCL’s growing capabilities and its potential to contribute to India’s transition towards cleaner energy.

The project is also being viewed as part of a broader shift in India’s energy and industrial landscape, where public-sector enterprises are increasingly exploring low-carbon fuels and technologies. With the shipping industry under growing pressure to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, alternative fuels such as e-methanol are gaining attention as part of the transition towards cleaner maritime transport.

The proposed APCL-DPA facility, once operational, is therefore expected to serve not only as an industrial investment but also as a component of India’s emerging green-fuel ecosystem. For Assam, the project marks a notable step in taking the capabilities of one of its state-owned enterprises into a national clean-energy market, while for APCL, it could open a new avenue of growth beyond its traditional industrial base.