Thermax Limited has partnered with Ankur Scientific to establish India’s first green methanol production facility at Deendayal Port Authority in Gujarat, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to decarbonise the maritime sector.

The proposed facility will have an annual production capacity of up to 18,000 tonnes of green methanol, addressing nearly half of India’s projected shipping-sector methanol demand of 37,000 tonnes by 2030. The project is aimed at supporting the transition towards cleaner marine fuels as the shipping industry faces increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions.

Designed as a modular and integrated production unit spread across approximately one acre within the port premises, the plant is expected to produce around five tonnes of green methanol per day. The fuel will be manufactured using advanced biomass gasification technology developed by Ankur Scientific.

The production process will utilise Ganda Baval biomass as feedstock, helping reduce reliance on fossil-based fuel sources while promoting renewable biomass utilisation. The green methanol produced will meet international ASTM quality standards with purity levels exceeding 99.9% and comply with European Union certification requirements for green bio-methanol.

Green methanol is emerging as a critical alternative fuel for shipping due to its lower carbon footprint and compatibility with evolving marine fuel regulations. The facility is expected to strengthen India’s clean fuel ecosystem while supporting sustainable fuel availability for marine transport.

The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s broader sustainability goals and efforts to promote low-carbon fuel solutions for hard-to-abate sectors such as shipping, industrial fuel use, and heavy transport.