INDIA’S GREENLINE PLANS MAJOR EXPANSION WITH 5,000 LNG TRUCKS

Indian logistics company GreenLine Mobility Solutions is set to deploy 5,000 LNG-powered trucks in the fiscal year ending March 2025 (FY25), marking a significant expansion in its capabilities, CEO Anand Mimani told Gas Pathways. The company plans an ambitious investment of 50bn rupees ($600mn) to achieve this goal.

“In FY25, GreenLine is poised for significant expansion and growth. With an ambitious investment of 50bn rupees, we plan to deploy 5,000 LNG trucks, marking a substantial leap forward in our capabilities,” Mimani said. “This expansion is not solely focused on serving our existing customer base; rather, it represents an opportunity to tap into new sectors and industries. By diversifying our customer profile, we aim to extend the benefits of LNG-powered transportation to a broader range of businesses,” he added.

Diversified customer base and expanding fleet

Mumbai-based GreenLine Mobility, an initiative of Essar Group, currently operates a fleet of over 350 LNG-powered trucks, serving a diverse range of customers across multiple industries. These sectors include cement, steel, metals and mining, fast-moving consumer goods, express cargo, oil and gas, chemicals, and consumer goods. The company operates in several states including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, with clients such as Hindustan Zinc, Tata Steel, UltraTech Cement, Dalmia Cement, JSW Steel, JSW Cement, JK Lakshmi Cement, JSP, Nestle, Delhivery, and Reliance Industries.

“We are also in ongoing discussions to further expand our partnerships,” Mimani said.

GreenLine has partnered with Blue Energy Motors, also part of the Essar Group and India’s first LNG heavy commercial vehicle manufacturer. This partnership ensures access to LNG trucks, facilitating the scaling up of GreenLine’s fleet across multiple customers. The entire fleet of LNG-powered trucks is fully company-owned.

Environmental and cost benefits

LNG-powered trucks offer numerous advantages over conventional diesel trucks, including significantly lower emissions, according to GreenLine. They reduce carbon dioxide by up to 30%, carbon monoxide by up to 70%, sulphur oxides by up to 100%, nitrogen oxides by up to 59%, and particulate matter by up to 91%, thereby significantly lowering environmental impact.

Additionally, LNG trucks generate up to 30% less noise compared to diesel trucks, benefiting both drivers and communities along transportation routes. Moreover, LNG is competitively priced with diesel, enabling companies to achieve substantial emissions reductions without incurring additional fuel costs.

Focus on LNG refuelling infrastructure

In addition to operating a fleet of LNG-powered trucks, GreenLine Mobility operates a chain of LNG refuelling stations under the Ultra Gas & Energy (UGEL) brand. UGEL launched the first privately owned LNG retail outlet in Sriperambudur, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and its second retail outlet in Anand, Gujarat. Each UGEL retail outlet is designed to scale up to an LNG storage capacity of 100 tonnes, enabling it to serve a fleet of up to 1,200 LNG-powered trucks per month, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions by replacing high-speed diesel in heavy trucking. UGEL has partnerships with Indian Oil Corporation, Gail, and other major companies for LNG sourcing.

By the end of FY25, UGEL plans to commission numerous new LNG stations. “With a goal of establishing 100 LNG hubs nationwide, UGEL aims to solidify its position as the largest privately-owned LNG automotive network in India. These strategically located stations, positioned along major transportation routes in states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka, Odisha, and Jharkhand, will ensure widespread accessibility to LNG fuel,” Mimani said.

Growth in Indian LNG-powered trucking

Mimani highlighted that factors such as lower emissions, lower operational costs compared to traditional diesel trucks, and expanding refuelling infrastructure will boost demand for LNG-powered trucks in India.

“The expanding infrastructure for LNG refuelling stations across key transportation routes is making it more convenient and practical for logistics companies to adopt LNG technology. These combined factors are propelling the growth of the LNG-powered trucking industry towards a more sustainable and efficient future,” he said.

However, Mimani noted that the expansion of LNG refuelling infrastructure needs to be swifter. “India currently operates around 11 LNG stations nationwide. While progress is underway in expanding LNG refuelling stations, there is acknowledgment of the need for swifter expansion,” he said.

“To address this challenge, we are working closely with our subsidiary, UGEL, to expedite the establishment of LNG hubs nationwide. Through this concerted effort to enhance refuelling infrastructure, our aim is to create a robust network that renders LNG a more feasible and readily accessible fuel choice for the transportation sector,” Mimani concluded.