Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and the Cochin Port Authority have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish LNG bunkering facilities for LNG-powered and dual-fuel vessels at the outer anchorage, inner port limits, and the Petronet LNG Ltd Jetty.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Kasiviswanathan Balasubramanian, Chairperson, Cochin Port Authority, and Manoj Menon, Business Head (I&C), BPCL, by Capt. Himanshu Shekhar, Traffic Manager, Cochin Port Authority, and Sanjay Kargaonkar, Chief General Manager (Sales–I&C), BPCL, during India Maritime Week 2025 held in Mumbai from October 27 to 31.

According to the Cochin Port Authority, the proposed project involves an estimated investment of 5bn rupees ($56.4 million).

Petronet LNG is India's largest LNG importer, operating major LNG terminals including Kochi and Dahej. Commissioned in August 2013, the Petronet LNG Ltd Jetty in Cochin is part of the Kochi LNG Terminal that the company operates.

The terminal is located in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of Puthuvypeen near the entrance to Cochin Port and has a capacity of 5 million tonnes per annum (MMTPA) for receiving, storing, and regasifying LNG.

BPCL is one of the joint venture partners in Petronet LNG Limited, along with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC).

Earlier this week, BPCL also signed a separate MoU with Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone to develop an LNG bunkering facility at Vizhinjam Port in Kerala.