Adani Ports and BPCL Partner to Launch India’s First Ship-to-Ship LNG Bunkering Facility at Vizhinjam
Summary
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop India’s first ship-to-ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering facility at Vizhinjam International Seaport, Kerala. The agreement was exchanged during India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai by APSEZ CEO Ashwani Gupta and BPCL Business Head – Gas Rahul Tandon.
The facility will act as a dedicated LNG refuelling hub for international vessels on the East–West shipping corridor, offering a lower-emission alternative to conventional marine fuels and supporting the International Maritime Organization’s decarbonisation goals. APSEZ frames the project as part of its sustainable ports strategy, while BPCL sees it as an extension of its clean energy and LNG infrastructure ambitions.
Key Points
- APSEZ and BPCL signed an MoU at India Maritime Week 2025 to build India’s first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering facility at Vizhinjam.
- The facility will serve international vessels on the East–West global shipping corridor, acting as a dedicated LNG refuelling hub.
- LNG bunkering is promoted as a cleaner marine fuel option that can help reduce vessel emissions and support IMO sustainability targets.
- The project supports APSEZ’s vision for next-generation sustainable ports and aims to position Vizhinjam as a low-carbon gateway in the Indian Ocean region.
- For BPCL, the move expands its clean-energy and LNG bunkering portfolio, leveraging its gas marketing and fuel-supply expertise.
Context and Relevance
This initiative comes as the global shipping sector accelerates efforts to cut greenhouse-gas emissions. LNG is widely regarded as a transitional fuel — cleaner than heavy fuel oil and marine diesel — and bunkering infrastructure is crucial to enable shipowners to switch fuels. For India, the facility strengthens domestic LNG logistics, raises Vizhinjam’s strategic profile, and signals private-sector momentum behind maritime decarbonisation.
Operationally, ship-to-ship bunkering requires strict safety, regulatory and supply-chain planning; the partnership pairs Adani Ports’ port operations capabilities with BPCL’s fuel logistics know-how. The project is relevant to port operators, shipowners, fuel suppliers, regulators and investors tracking the green shift in maritime energy and infrastructure development across the Indian Ocean region.
Author style
Punchy: This isn’t just another port press release — it’s a practical, first-of-its-kind step that could reshape low-carbon bunkering in India. If you’re following shipping decarbonisation, port strategy or energy infrastructure, read the details: this signals where private-sector investment is flowing.
Why should I read this?
Short answer: because it’s the first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering deal in India and it matters if you care about cleaner shipping, port investment or supply-chain shifts. It shows private players moving from talk to build — saves you the time of digging through conference notes.
