BHUBANESWAR: The Centre on Thursday approved a dedicated jetty with allied facilities for handling green hydrogen, ammonia and other liquid cargo at Paradip port at an estimated cost of Rs 797.17 crore.
The project cleared by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways will be implemented by Paradip Port Authority on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.
The proposed facility will have a handling capacity of four million tonnes per annum and has been designed to strengthen Paradip port's role as a hub for green energy cargo.
The infrastructure will include a dedicated jetty, storage systems, pipelines, handling equipment and associated facilities.
The jetty will have a centre-to-centre distance of 279 meters between extreme end dolphins and a dredged depth of 14.3 meters in front of the berth to enable safe handling of liquid cargo vessels.
Paradip Port Authority will provide capital support equivalent to 20 per cent of the project cost, amounting to Rs 159.43 crore, during the construction phase.
The project is expected to be completed within 24 months.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the Centre is committed to building future-ready green infrastructure.
The dedicated green hydrogen jetty will play a critical role in strengthening export logistics and integrating Odisha's emerging green hydrogen production clusters with global markets, he said.
The Centre, Sonowal said, is building world-class port infrastructure that supports the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). The Paradip project will not only enhance cargo capacity but also catalyse investment, generate employment and create a robust green energy ecosystem in eastern India, he said.
The facility will also include provisions for handling other liquid cargo to ensure optimal utilisation during the initial growth phase of the green hydrogen sector and to diversify Paradip port's cargo profile.
Officials said the project is aligned with the objectives of the NGHM and is expected to support investments in green energy infrastructure in Odisha while strengthening port-based logistics for clean energy commodities.
The proposed jetty will incorporate specialised infrastructure and advanced safety systems for handling and storing green energy derivatives and other liquid cargo, supporting the development of an integrated green hydrogen ecosystem around Paradip port, they added.