Mumbai's Jawahar Island becomes India's first plastic‑free oil terminal

A new oil terminal was recently opened on Jawahar Island, located in the coastal area of Mumbai, and it is being called India’s first completely plastic‑free terminal. The facility was built under a joint initiative of the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Environment, with the aim of eliminating the use of plastic in the storage and distribution of oil and petroleum products. The terminal uses biodegradable or recycled materials for packaging, pipeline covers, and all other structures, which is expected to reduce plastic waste by more than 90 percent.

This step aligns with the Indian government’s goal of reducing plastic use by 2025 and is being seen as an exemplary project amid growing global environmental awareness. According to the terminal’s management, all tank and pipeline covers have been replaced with recycled polyethylene, while bioplastic‑based composites have been adopted for the safety liners used inside the tanks. In addition, a dedicated waste‑management unit has been established at the terminal, which separates plastic‑free waste for recycling or energy generation.

Industry experts believe that this initiative not only reduces environmental impact but also establishes new standards of cost‑effectiveness and sustainability in the oil sector. If this model is implemented in other terminals as well, it could become a significant milestone toward eliminating plastic waste in India’s oil and gas industry.