Reliance Industries Ltd has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Vadhvan Port Project Ltd to develop a liquid cargo jetty and a 50-acre tank farm at the upcoming Vadhvan Port in Maharashtra’s Palghar taluka. The project, estimated at Rs 6.45 billion (approximately $78 million), aims to support Reliance’s planned petrochemical units in the region.

The agreement was formalized in the presence of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal. Unmesh Wagh, Chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and Vadhvan Port Project Ltd, confirmed the development.

Under the MoU, Reliance Industries will bid competitively for the public-private-partnership (PPP) model project to construct the jetty and six liquid storage tanks. The facilities are expected to streamline logistics and enhance supply chain efficiency for the petrochemical manufacturing operations in Palghar.

Slated for operations by 2030, the Vadhvan Port will be a state-of-the-art facility, designed to handle 23.2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually. The port’s deep-water infrastructure, including a 20-metre draft, will accommodate mega container ships with over 24,000 TEUs capacity, a scale unmatched by other Indian ports.

“Vadhvan Port will transform India’s port infrastructure with its unique landlord model and advanced capacity,” said Wagh.

The port project, undertaken by Vadhvan Port Project Ltd—a joint venture between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (74% stake) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (26%)—will be executed in two phases. It will feature nine container terminals, each equipped with straight, 1,000-metre-long berths, enabling efficient cargo handling.

By leveraging this infrastructure, Reliance Industries aims to strengthen its logistical capabilities and support India’s growing petrochemical industry.