NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), the green energy subsidiary of NTPC Limited, has signed a pact with Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port for the development of a Green Hydrogen hub in Kolkata. An official statement released on September 25 said, “An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed today between NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of India’s leading integrated power producer NTPC Limited, and Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, for the development of a Green Hydrogen Hub at Kolkata.” 

The MoU was signed by Bimal Gopalachari, AGM (NGEL) and Amit Kumar Kar, CME (SMPK) in the presence of Mohit Bhargava, CEO (NGEL), and other senior officials of NTPC and SMPK. SMPK is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW). 

NTPC is India’s largest power utility having a total installed capacity of over 73 GW. Its wholly owned subsidiary, NGEL, is taking up renewable energy capacity addition, including projects of Green Hydrogen, and Energy Storage. NTPC Group aims for 60 GW of RE capacity by the year 2032, with 3.2 GW installed and over 20 GW in the pipeline. 

In a statement, the port has said that the initiative will not only alleviate the time and cost of transporting cargo from other parts of India to northeast but also furnish an alternative route avoiding the congested Siliguri and Guwahati corridors. The distance from Kolkata to Agartala is approx 1,619 km via Siliguri but via Chattogram port, it is approximately 575km. By road, it takes six-seven days to cover the distance via Siliguri, but via Chattagram port, it will take only four-five days from SMP, Kolkata.  

Image Source: Energy Watch