Mundra Port in talks with Vietnam govt to set up port

Gujarat-based Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone Ltd is holding talks with the Vietnamese government to set up a port in that country.

“Talks are in progress with the Government of Vietnam to set up a port there. Things are still, however, in the initial stage but we are hopeful (of setting up the port),” Mundra Port Director Rajeeva Sinha told PTI.

Sinha declined to divulge details but said that, “if things materialise, then Mundra Port will be the first such Indian company to set up a port abroad”.

On the company’s plans to set up ports on the east coast of India, Sinha said, the company plans to set up at least one port in the region in the next three-four years which will basically cater to the iron ore and coal bulk.

Mundra Port was talking to the governments of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu for setting up the port, he said, without giving a specific time-frame for the project.

Just a few days ago, Mundra Port had signed a 30-year concession with the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) for development of a coal terminal in Goa on a build, operate and transfer model.

The project, which will take shape in two years, will handle 10 million tonnes of coal per annum and will generate a revenue of Rs 200 crore per year.

Around Rs 350 crore will be invested in the project, which will be commissioned by March 2013. MPT currently handles import of 5.5 million tonnes of coal annually.

He also informed that work was in progress for another specialised coal terminal at Mundra which is expected to be completed by 2011.

The project, at an investment of Rs 2,200 crore, will be commissioned by 2010, he said.