Kerala MoUs Worth ₹2,000 Cr for Vizhinjam Port

Current Context: On 23 February 2026, Kerala Government signed three MoUs worth ₹2,000 crore for Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

• The port is a Public‑Private Partnership (PPP) with Adani Group, but MoUs bring in Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) as guardrails.
• Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) – ₹700 crore for Maritime Bunkering (large‑scale refueling facilities).
• Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) – ₹700 crore for a Multimodal Logistics Park (50 acres, cold storage, export units).
• Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR) – ₹600 crore for Rail Connectivity (Inland Container Depots & Container Freight Stations).
• Significance: Prevents monopoly, ensures competitive pricing, integrates port with India’s energy, warehousing, and rail networks.

Question:

Q.1 Under the Vizhinjam International Seaport MoUs (23 February 2026), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) committed ₹700 crore for:
a) Shipbuilding facilities
b) Maritime bunkering operations
c) Offshore wind energy terminal
d) Cruise tourism infrastructure

Answer: b) Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) will invest ₹700 crore to establish large-scale maritime bunkering (ship refueling) facilities, improving port competitiveness.