V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) has invited bids for the turnkey development of a 3MW green hydrogen production plant and refuelling station at its premises in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, as the port advances plans to establish itself as a green hydrogen hub for maritime applications.
The project, estimated at Rs 81.33 crore excluding GST, will cover the design, engineering, supply, construction, commissioning and performance testing of the facility. The tender is intended to support the development of green hydrogen infrastructure for shipping and contribute to the wider decarbonisation of maritime fuel supply chains.
3 MW electrolyser and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure
The proposed facility will include a 3 MW electrolyser system along with hydrogen compressors, storage infrastructure and a refuelling station.
The refuelling station will have a dispenser capacity of 3.6 kg per minute. The tender also covers the associated infrastructure required to establish the greenfield complex, including internal roads, fencing and a control room office.
VOCPA will provide a 22 kV power supply and potable water for operation of the facility at no cost, according to the tender details supplied.
The project therefore combines hydrogen production, storage and dispensing infrastructure at a port location, allowing the planned facility to serve as part of the port’s proposed green shipping ecosystem.
Seven-year operation and maintenance period
The successful bidder will be responsible for the project through a development period of 12 months. The period begins from the 15th day after issuance of the Letter of Award.
Following development, the contract includes seven years of comprehensive operation and maintenance. This period incorporates a two-year guarantee period.
The turnkey scope places responsibility on the selected contractor for the complete project lifecycle through design, detailed engineering, equipment supply, civil works, erection, commissioning and performance guarantee testing.
Financial and technical eligibility requirements
VOCPA has set financial and technical qualification requirements for companies seeking to participate in the tender.
Applicants must have achieved an average annual turnover over the preceding three years equivalent to at least 30% of the project’s estimated cost. Given the project estimate of Rs 81.33 crore excluding GST, the threshold is linked directly to the scale of the proposed facility.
Bidders must also demonstrate relevant experience gained during the previous seven years. Eligible experience includes work involving hydrogen generation plants, chemical process plants, integrated refuelling stations, or electrolyser supply and associated hydrogen operations.
Joint ventures and consortia of up to three members are permitted. Under the stated requirements, the lead partner must meet at least 50% of the required financial capability and maintain a minimum 26% equity share.
An Earnest Money Deposit of Rs 1.6266 crore is required. The tender allows the EMD to be submitted through the Central Public Procurement Portal or specified financial instruments. Micro and Small Enterprises holding valid certification are exempt from the EMD requirement.
Tender process moves towards October bid deadline
Tender documents became available on September 15, 2026. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for September 24, while the deadline for submitting bids is October 6 at 3:00 PM.
Technical bids are scheduled to be opened on October 7 at 3:30 PM. Prospective bidders are also required to undertake a site visit and upload evidence confirming the visit with their bids.
Submitted bids will remain valid for 120 days from the date of opening.
Tuticorin project supports green shipping ambitions
The tender forms part of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ objective of developing VOCPA as a green hydrogen hub for green shipping.
For a port, the combination of hydrogen production and refuelling infrastructure has a direct connection with the development of alternative maritime fuel supply systems. The project is consequently positioned not simply as an electrolyser installation but as an integrated hydrogen production and dispensing facility within port infrastructure.
The tender also places the project within India’s broader National Green Hydrogen Mission objectives, according to the supplied source. Its eventual contribution to maritime decarbonisation will depend on successful project delivery, operation of the hydrogen system and development of demand for hydrogen-based transport applications.
Bioenergy Business Analysis
The VOCPA tender illustrates how Indian ports are moving from broad green-shipping ambitions towards procurement of physical hydrogen infrastructure. The inclusion of production, compression, storage and refuelling in a single turnkey package indicates an emphasis on creating an operational hydrogen supply system rather than developing production capacity in isolation.
The commercial opportunity extends across electrolyser suppliers, hydrogen-system integrators, engineering companies and operators with experience in industrial gases and refuelling infrastructure. At the same time, the project’s seven-year operation and maintenance requirement means bidders will need to account for long-term operational performance alongside construction and commissioning.
The tender’s outcome will provide a concrete indication of how quickly port-based green hydrogen infrastructure can move from planning to implementation in India’s maritime sector.
Read also: South Africa names first six priority green hydrogen projects
