India’s state-owned upstream oil and gas producer Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has signed shipbuilding contracts for two very large ethane carriers (VLECs) through its joint ventures with Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).
The contracts were signed on 27 January with South Korea-based shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries for vessels with cargo capacities of about 100,000 cbm each.
ONGC said the ships will help ensure a stable and reliable flow of ethane to India, strengthening supply security for downstream industries, including ONGC Petro additions Ltd (OPaL), the country’s largest integrated petrochemicals complex.
The vessels will be owned and operated by ONGC–MOL joint ventures based in GIFT City, Gujarat, and will sail under the Indian flag.
Delivery is scheduled for the 2028–29 financial year.
The project marks a step towards building dedicated energy shipping capacity as India seeks to reduce exposure to external supply disruptions and support domestic manufacturing growth.
ONGC said the initiative aligns with the government’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and Atmanirbhar Bharat programmes, which aim to expand India’s domestic shipping capability and strengthen energy self-reliance.
Ethane is primarily used as a feedstock for ethylene and plastics production, with Indian demand rising as new petrochemical capacity comes online.
