Dhamra Port cargo up 8% in 2014-15

Total cargo handled by the port was 15.45 mn tonne by 2014-15 end, compared to 14.31 mn tonne a year ago

Adani Group controlled Dhamra Port Company Ltd (DPCL) has recorded eight per cent growth in cargo in 2014-15. Total cargo handled by the port inclusive of import and export traffic, stood at 15.45 million tonne (mt) by the end of 2014-15 compared to 14.31 mt logged in the year ago fiscal.

In 2014-15, Dhamra port (pictured), a deep draught port off the coast of north Odisha, handled 14.05 mt of import cargo and 1.40 mt of export cargo. The port’s export cargo shrank 65 per cent in FY 15 compared to 4.08 mt registered in 2013-14 as curbs on iron ore exports prevailed.

BEST LAID PLANS

• DPCL has a Rs 10,000-crore expansion plan to ramp up its cargo handling capacity fourfold to 100 mtpa up from 25 mtpa presently
• The port is awaiting allotment of 740 acres from the state government to commence work on expansion
• After the expansion, the port will be able to handle container cargo, liquid cargo, LNG and crude oil

During April-June of the current fiscal, the port has handled total cargo of 3.22 mt which includes 2.88 mt import cargo and the balance 0.34 mt being export traffic.

The port's overall cargo growth at eight per cent in FY 15 was comparatively slower than 29.3 per cent which it had achieved in 2013-14.



Aiming to diversify its cargo base, DPCL had lined up Rs 10,000 crore expansion plan to ramp up its cargo handling capacity four fold to 100 mt per annum (mtpa) up from 25 mtpa presently. The port is awaiting allotment of 740 acres land from the state government to commence work on expansion. After the second phase expansion, the port will be able to handle container cargo, liquid cargo, LNG (liquefied natural gas) and crude oil. Currently, the port is equipped with two fully mechanised berths with a combined cargo handling capacity of 25 mtpa. The two berths are capable of handling 12 mt of imported dry bulk cargo and 13 million tonne of cargo for exports. The port commenced commercial operations in May 2011.

In May this year, Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), part of the Adani Group, had acquired Dhamra Port Company Ltd (DPCL) for Rs 5,500 crore.

Prior to the acquisition, DPCL was run as a 50:50 joint venture between Tata Steel and L&T Infrastructure Development Projects Ltd. In one of the biggest port sector deals in recent years, APSEZ has gained a foothold in the eastern sector through acquisition of the Dhamra port.