Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK) has awarded a 30-year land and waterfront licence for a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Haldia Dock Complex to a consortium of Invenire Petrodyne and Excelerate Global Operations.

Officials confirmed that an agreement is likely to be signed soon. The allotment includes 10 acres of land and 15 acres of waterfront for setting up a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) or floating storage unit, coupled with a land-based regasification facility of 1.5 million metric tonne per annum (MMTPA). The project allows expansion up to three MTPA in response to market demand.

The consortium secured the licence through competitive bidding, committing an upfront rent of Rs 24.4 crore plus royalty on land. The facility’s first phase is targeted for commissioning in the second half of 2027, supported by GAIL’s gas pipeline to Haldia, scheduled for completion by March 2026. The terminal is expected to boost eastern India’s energy transition by supplying industries, power plants, and city gas distributors with cleaner fuel options.