BPCL–Sembcorp JV Wins 10KTPA Green Hydrogen Contract From Numaligarh Refinery — A Major Clean Energy Milestone for India
New Delhi / Mumbai, March 23, 2026 — In a landmark development for India's rapidly advancing green hydrogen economy, the joint venture between Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Singapore-based energy major Sembcorp Industries has successfully secured a significant 10,000 tonnes per annum (10KTPA) green hydrogen supply contract from Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), one of India's most strategically important petroleum refineries located in Assam, Northeast India. The contract, confirmed through an official statement, marks one of the largest green hydrogen offtake agreements signed in the Indian energy sector to date and signals a major step forward in India's ambitious clean energy transition agenda.
Understanding the Deal — BPCL, Sembcorp and Numaligarh Refinery
The BPCL–Sembcorp joint venture was established to develop, produce, and supply green hydrogen at industrial scale — leveraging BPCL's deep expertise in India's downstream petroleum sector and Sembcorp's extensive global track record in sustainable energy infrastructure development. The partnership combines Indian market knowledge with international clean energy project execution capabilities, creating a formidable platform for scaling green hydrogen production across India's industrial and energy sectors.
Numaligarh Refinery Limited, which is majority-owned by Oil India Limited (OIL) and the Government of Assam, has been at the forefront of integrating cleaner energy inputs into its refining operations as part of its broader sustainability and decarbonisation strategy. The decision to source 10KTPA of green hydrogen from the BPCL–Sembcorp JV represents a concrete and commercially significant commitment to replacing conventional grey hydrogen — produced from fossil fuels — with genuinely clean, renewably produced green hydrogen in its refining processes.
Why This Contract Is a Game Changer for India's Green Hydrogen Mission
India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched by the Government of India with an outlay of over ₹19,000 crore, has set an ambitious target of producing 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen per annum by 2030. Achieving this target requires not just production capacity but also large, bankable offtake agreements — exactly what the BPCL–Sembcorp and Numaligarh Refinery deal provides. Contracts of this scale are critical for attracting the substantial capital investment needed to build electrolyser capacity, renewable energy generation assets, and hydrogen transportation and storage infrastructure across India.
Green hydrogen — produced by using renewable electricity to split water molecules through electrolysis — produces zero carbon emissions during its production process, making it one of the most promising pathways for decarbonising hard-to-abate industrial sectors including oil refining, steel manufacturing, fertiliser production, and heavy transportation. The Numaligarh Refinery contract is therefore significant not just in volume terms but as a powerful demonstration that India's industrial sector is ready to make real, large-scale commitments to green hydrogen adoption.
For the latest data, policy frameworks, and global benchmarks on green hydrogen development, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) provides comprehensive and authoritative research on green hydrogen production costs, market development trends, and national policy strategies — making it an essential reference for industry stakeholders and investors tracking this rapidly evolving sector.
Strategic Significance for BPCL and Sembcorp
For BPCL, winning this contract validates its strategic pivot toward clean energy and reinforces its position as one of India's leading energy companies — one that is actively transitioning its business model beyond conventional fossil fuel operations toward a more diversified, sustainability-oriented portfolio. BPCL has been investing heavily in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and EV charging infrastructure as part of its long-term energy transition roadmap, and this contract win provides a strong commercial anchor for its green hydrogen ambitions.
For Sembcorp Industries, the contract represents a meaningful expansion of its clean energy footprint in India — one of the world's fastest-growing energy markets and a country that has emerged as a global priority destination for green hydrogen investment. Sembcorp has been actively building its renewable energy portfolio across Asia, and the BPCL partnership provides a compelling platform for scaling its green hydrogen activities in the Indian subcontinent.
What This Means for Northeast India and Assam
Beyond the national energy policy implications, the BPCL–Sembcorp JV's green hydrogen contract with Numaligarh Refinery carries particular significance for Northeast India. The region has historically been underserved in terms of clean energy investment and industrial infrastructure development. This contract has the potential to catalyse broader green energy ecosystem development in Assam — creating jobs, attracting ancillary investment, and positioning the Northeast as a meaningful contributor to India's national green hydrogen production targets.
As India races to meet its COP29 and net zero commitments while simultaneously ensuring energy security and economic growth, landmark deals like the BPCL–Sembcorp and Numaligarh Refinery green hydrogen contract serve as powerful proof points that the country's clean energy transition is moving from policy aspiration to commercial reality at an accelerating pace.
