Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has partnered with Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) to enter ethane shipping through two joint ventures. ONGC will hold 50% equity in each JV, incorporated at GIFT City, Gandhinagar. The move strengthens ONGC’s energy logistics and value chain through specialized ethane transport capabilities.
ONGC has signed joint venture and capital contribution agreements with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), marking its formal entry into ethane shipping operations. The two JV entities will be based in GIFT City, with ONGC subscribing to equity and owning 50% in each, aligning shipping capabilities with downstream feedstock needs and energy logistics diversification.
Key highlights:
-
Strategic partnership: ONGC and MOL formalize JV agreements to operate ethane shipping, enhancing specialized energy transportation capabilities.
-
Ownership structure: ONGC to hold a 50% stake in each of the two JV entities, ensuring shared governance and aligned interests.
-
Location: JV companies established in GIFT City, Gandhinagar, positioning the venture within India’s international financial services ecosystem.
-
Value-chain integration: The move complements ONGC’s downstream expansion, supporting reliable ethane supply for petrochemical operations.
-
Context: Builds on ONGC’s earlier agreement with MOL to build, own, and operate very large ethane carriers (VLECs), strengthening ethane logistics capacity.
This JV is a strategic step to secure feedstock logistics, improve energy security, and expand ONGC’s presence across the shipping value chain in line with global petrochemical growth trajectories.
Sources: The Economic Times; InvestyWise; MarineLink