A memorandum of understanding was signed by the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha, the investment promotion agency of the state government, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited to set up a renewable energy plant and a green hydrogen plant both for domestic and export customers.
Under the MoU, valid for five years, requisite infrastructure will also be created for the purpose of setting up these plants and training, and knowledge sharing will take place.
Green hydrogen would help the industries cut aggregate emissions of greenhouse gases thus contributing to the overall objectives of the Centre’s INDC (Intended Nationally Determined Contribution) targets. Odisha, being a power-surplus state, is looking to further strengthen its position in power and these upcoming plants will help Odisha-based heavy industries to supplement their growing power requirements.
While on behalf of the Odisha government, MD, IPICOL Bhupendra Singh Poonia signed the MoU, executive director, renewable energy, BPCL, Amit Garg, signed on behalf of the oil major. The MoU signing ceremony on Monday was presided over by chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra. Development commissioner P.K. Jena; secretary energy, Nikunja Bihari Dhal; secretary finance Vishal Dev, chairman and MD of BPCL Arun Kumar Singh and other dignitaries from the government, oil industry, and environmentalists were present.
Speaking on the occasion, chief secretary Mahapatra said: “We have huge natural resources and due to the expanding steel making industry, green energy is a big prospect in Odisha. Also, we have major ports and developing new ones, which will help BPCL to export green hydrogen and ammonia to other countries.”
Development commissioner Jena assured all the help. Secretary industries Hemant Sharma said: “Odisha is the single largest manufacturer of steel in the country. More than 33% of the steel-making capacity is now in Odisha making it the primary producer of green hydrogen and green ammonia. Because of the value addition policy, the demand is only going to increase in future.”
CMD, BPCL, Arun Kumar Singh, said: “Given our constant pursuit of customer service quality excellence, we at BPCL aim to achieve Net-Zero, in Scope I and II emissions, by 2040. BPCL also plans to spend Rs 25,000 crore to build a renewable energy capacity of 10 gigawatts comprising a mix of solar, wind, small hydro and biomass by 2040.”
