Green hydrogen is no longer a distant ambition for Gujarat — it is arriving at the docks. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday, October 10, 2026, highlighted a significant moment at Kandla Forum 2026, where global industry leaders from the Hydrogen Council visited Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) Kandla to explore the port's pioneering green hydrogen initiatives.

Hydrogen Council visits Kandla — what it signals

The Hydrogen Council is a global CEO-led initiative representing some of the world's largest energy, transport, and industrial companies committed to accelerating the hydrogen economy. Its leaders making a dedicated visit to DPA Kandla — one of India's largest and oldest major ports, located on the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat — places the port squarely on the international green energy map. CM Patel described witnessing the interaction as 'encouraging', underscoring that the state is actively courting global partnerships, not just domestic investment.

Kandla's strategic location makes it a natural gateway for hydrogen exports and imports, with direct access to West Asian shipping lanes. A port-level green hydrogen ecosystem — covering production, storage, and maritime bunkering — would position DPA Kandla as a critical node in the emerging global clean-fuel supply chain.

Gujarat's bet on becoming a global green hydrogen hub

CM Patel framed the development within Prime Minister Narendra Modi's broader vision, pointing to Gujarat's sustained push to become a 'global hub for Green Hydrogen, clean energy innovation and sustainable maritime development.' The state has long leveraged its extensive coastline, high renewable energy potential — particularly solar and wind in the Kutch and Saurashtra regions — and established port infrastructure to attract clean energy investment.

India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched by the central government, targets production of 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030, with significant investment in electrolyser manufacturing and export infrastructure. Gujarat, with projects already announced at Kandla and the GIFT City ecosystem providing financing frameworks, has positioned itself as the preferred execution ground for that national ambition.

Maritime decarbonisation — the quiet revolution at Kandla

What makes the Kandla angle particularly consequential is the maritime dimension. Shipping accounts for roughly 3 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and international regulators are pushing hard for green marine fuels. A port that can supply green hydrogen or its derivatives — green ammonia, methanol — to vessels calling at Kandla would give India a rare first-mover advantage in the Asian maritime bunkering market. CM Patel's reference to 'sustainable maritime development' in his post is not incidental; it points to a port strategy that goes well beyond onshore energy generation.

The Kandla Forum 2026 gathering, bringing together global hydrogen industry executives and Indian port authorities on the same platform, is exactly the kind of convergence that turns policy intent into bankable projects. Gujarat is not waiting for the green transition to arrive — it is building the infrastructure to host it.