MPSEZ receives LOI for developing non-LNG port

Mundra Port and SEZ Ltd (MPSEZ) has been awarded letter of intent (LOI) by Hazira Port Pvt Ltd. (HPPL) for development of non-LNG port facilities at Hazira.

HPPL, a 74:26 joint venture between Shell Gas BV and Total Gaz Electricite Holdings France, has built the Hazira (Surat) port pursuant to a concession granted to it by the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) and Government of Gujarat (GoG) in April 2002.

HPPL, which has been operating LNG facilities at Hazira since 2005, selected MPSEZ for development of non-LNG cargo port after international competitive bidding. The port is for handling bulk, break Bulk, container and liquid cargo.

This port, once developed will be the only common user deep draft port facility in the region.  The construction work will commence as soon as all the statutory approvals are in place.

The overall master plan of port provides for thirteen berths, to be developed in phased manner. In the first phase, three to four berths forcontainer, liquid and dry bulk will be developed.

MPSEZL is managing the largest private port at Mundra in India in terms of cargo handling with total 36 million tonns of cargo handled in 2008-09. It is expected to handle 44 million tonnes in the current fiscal.

Apart from this, it is developing world’s largest and fully mechanized coal import terminal at Mundra with a capacity of 50 million tonnes to cater to various power projects including the  power projects being set up by Tata and Adani Group.

Additionally, a single buoy mooring (SBM) for crude oil imports is being set up to cater to HPCL Mittal’s   upcoming refinery at

Bhatinda. With all this, Mundra Port is likely to handle more than 100 million tonnes cargo by the year 2012-13.

The company is also setting up cargo terminals at Dahej, Gujarat and Mormugao port, Goa. The company is   looking for port development opportunities on the eastern coast of India as well as South East Asia and Africa.