Marco Polo Blue Deal: Sri Lanka poised to lead Indian Ocean's green energy revolution

CHARTING a bold new course towards a clean energy future, the Marco Polo Blue Deal is the ultimate business case for the future of Sri Lanka’s economy in the 21st century.

- BY SHANIKA GAMAGE

Led by the Ceylon Italy Blue Economy Association (CIBEA) and its visionary President Vittorio Coco, this landmark initiative positions Sri Lanka as a central clean energy hub in the Indian Ocean, uniting innovation, diplomacy, and sustainable industrial transformation.

The project builds on over a decade of commitment by Coco, who first introduced hydrogen-powered mobility to Sri Lanka in 2012. In 2023, he established the CIBEA with support from Sri Lankan Ministries, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and international academic institutions. With a new, expanded vision, the Marco Polo Blue Deal now seeks the endorsement of Sri Lanka’s national leadership and collaboration with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to realise its full potential.

From vision to strategy: The Eco-Energy Triangle

At the core of the initiative lies the creation of a Net Zero Investment Zone, anchored in the Eco-Energy Triangle connecting Trincomalee, Pulmoddai, and Vavuniya:

■Trincomalee: A green hydrogen and e-fuels bunkering hub for maritime transport.

■Pulmoddai: The most promising site—already inspected by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB)—for thorium-based nuclear energy, due to its rich monazite/thorium deposits.

■Vavuniya: Centre for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production through Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology, using sugarcane grown under agrivoltaic systems.

This trio of zones combines renewable energy, cutting-edge technology, and agri-industrial innovation to make Sri Lanka a model of green infrastructure in the Indian Ocean region.

A market-driven opportunity backed by global demand