Thermax Limited and Ankur Scientific Partner to Launch India’s First Green Methanol Plant at Deendayal Port Authority

Thermax Limited has partnered with Ankur Scientific to set up India’s first green methanol production facility at Deendayal Port Authority in Gujarat. This project marks an important step in India’s move towards cleaner fuels, especially for the shipping sector, which is under pressure to reduce emissions.

The upcoming facility will have a production capacity of 18,000 tonnes of green methanol per year. This is significant because India’s shipping industry is expected to need around 37,000 tonnes of methanol by 2030. The new plant will be able to meet nearly half of that demand, reducing dependence on imported fuels and supporting the country’s goal of becoming more self-reliant in energy.

Green methanol is considered a low-emission fuel and can play a key role in cutting pollution from ships. The shipping sector currently contributes about 3% of India’s total emissions. By switching to cleaner fuels like green methanol, the industry can move towards more sustainable operations.

The facility will be built on about one acre of land within the port area. It is designed as a modular and integrated unit, capable of producing around 5 tonnes of green methanol per day. The methanol produced will meet international ASTM quality standards, with a purity level of more than 99.9%. It will also comply with European certification for green bio-methanol, making it suitable for global maritime use.

A key feature of the project is the use of Ganda Baval, also known as mesquite, as the main raw material. This woody biomass is widely available in India but has limited agricultural value. By using it as a feedstock, the project not only produces clean fuel but also creates value from a low-use resource. This approach supports a circular economy by turning waste or underutilised biomass into useful energy.

The technology behind the plant combines Ankur Scientific’s expertise in biomass gasification with Thermax’s capabilities in fuel processing and chemical conversion. Together, they will convert the biomass into high-quality methanol that can replace fossil-based fuels in shipping.

Officials from Deendayal Port Authority have expressed support for the project, highlighting its alignment with the government’s push for green fuels in the maritime sector. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has been encouraging such initiatives to reduce emissions in hard-to-abate sectors like shipping.

This project is one of the first of its kind in India and is expected to act as a model for similar facilities across other ports in the country. If successful, it could lead to wider adoption of green methanol and help India move faster towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.