India’s first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering facility to come up at Vizhinjam

The first ship-to-ship Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunkering facility in the country will be set up at Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) and the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) have entered a strategic partnership to establish the first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering facility at Vizhinjam.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on the eve of India Maritime Week 2025, which is being held in Mumbai from October 27 to 31, marking a defining moment in the nation’s maritime energy transition. The agreement was formally exchanged between Ashwani Gupta, wholetime director and CEO, APSEZ, and Rahul Tandon, Business Head, Gas, BPCL.

The facility at Vizhinjam Port will serve as a dedicated LNG refuelling hub for international vessels transiting the East-West global shipping corridor. By offering an alternative to conventional marine fuels, the project will enable shipping lines to significantly reduce emissions, aligning India’s maritime industry with the International Maritime Organisation’s decarbonisation targets.

For APSEZ, this initiative is expected to play a pivotal role in building sustainable, next-generation ports that not only strengthen India’s logistics network but also set new benchmarks in green port operations, said APSEZ in a statement. The project also positions Vizhinjam as a strategic gateway for low-carbon shipping in the strategically important Indian Ocean region.

For BPCL, the partnership marks a major step in expanding its clean energy portfolio and LNG infrastructure. Leveraging its expertise in gas marketing and fuel supply, BPCL will bring the technical know-how and operational excellence required to execute world-class bunkering services.

The LNG bunkering initiative is also a catalyst for India’s net-zero journey, strengthening the nation’s position as a responsible maritime power. As India charts its course towards sustainable growth, the Adani Ports-BPCL alliance at Vizhinjam stands as a powerful example of how innovation and partnership can redefine the future of global shipping, said the statement.