PPT to scale up berth handling capacity

To commission five mtpa multi-purpose berth within 30 months

Buoyed by the highest growth in cargo traffic among all major ports in the country during 2009-10, Paradeep Port Trust (PPT) is eyeing a cargo throughput of 100 million tonnes by 2016-17.

It has also targeted to scale up its berth handling capacity from 76 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) at present to 135 mtpa by 2013-14.

As part of its endeavour to enhance berth capacity, the port has completed the bidding procedure for the construction of a five million tonne per annum multipurpose berth for handling clean cargo including containers at an estimated cost of Rs 387.31 crore.

Biplab Kumar, chairman of PPT said, ‘this multipurpose berth is the third project being taken up by PPT on the public private partnership (PPP) mode and it is expected to be operational within 30 months. PPT will invest Rs 58 crore towards capital dredging in front of the berth and the remaining expenditure will be borne by the concessionaire.’’

The board of trustees of PPT has approved the issue of letter of award in favour of the consortium consisting of Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd and Leighton Contractors (India) Ltd at a revenue share of 23.4 per cent to the port.

The concession period is for 30 years from the date of the award of concession which includes the construction period of 36 months for the project facility.

On completion of the project, the port will be able to handle clean cargo including container in a dedicated terminal on the southern side, away from the bulk handling berths on the northern side.

PPT also proposes to construct an oil jetty at an estimated cost of Rs 192.01 crore by funding from its own internal resources. This 10 mtpa oil berth will cater to the requirement of the Paradeep oil refinery.

PPT has already submitted the detailed project report for appraisal, to the Union ministry of shipping.

It may be noted that PPT handled 57.01 million tonnes (mt) in 2009-10, registering a growth of over 22.84 per cent over 46.41 mt handled in 2008-09, thereby catapulting itself to the fifth position among all the major ports from the eight position which it held earlier.

The port had succeeded in clocking an impressive growth in the last fiscal despite the global economic meltdown which had slackened the export and import business.