PPT plans 10 mt oil berth at Rs 173cr

Paradeep Port Trust (PPT) plans to construct one oil berth for handling POL (petroleum, oil and lubricants) products at an investment of Rs 172.97 crore. The berth which would have a capacity of 10 million tonnes (mt) per annum is scheduled for commissioning by March 2012.

K Raghuramaiah, chairman, PPT said, “The new berth would be funded by PPT’s internal accruals.” He was speaking at a seminar on Role of PPT in Economic Development of Orissa organised here by the Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI).

Apart from the oil berth, PPT is adding four berths which include an iron ore berth, a coal berth and two multi-purpose berths. These berths would have a cumulative capacity of 29 mt. At present, PPT has 14 berths.

One iron-ore berth with back-up facilities having a capacity of 14 mt would be constructed on the BOT (build, operate and transfer) basis under the PPP mode at an investment of about Rs 591 crore.PPT has already issued the Letter of Acceptance to a consortium comprising the Hong Kong-based Noble Group, Gammon Infrastructure and MMTC and the concession agreement is expected to be signed soon, claimed Raghuramaiah. Besides, the tendering process for the 10 mt capacity coal berth is underway. The coal berth involves an investment of Rs 485 crore and it would also be constructed on the BOT basis under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The two multi-purpose berths would also be set up on the PPP mode, entailing an investment of Rs 359 crore. These berths with a capacity of 5 mt would handle containers and clean cargo and are expected to be commissioned by March 2012.

PPT, at present, is undertaking channel deepening work at a cost of Rs 253.36 crore. The work, being executed by Dredging Corporation of India, is expected to be completed by March 2010. Following this, the port would be able to handle Capesize vessels with a capacity of 1,25,000 tonnes, said Raghuramaiah. The port is currently handling vessels up to a capacity of 70,0000 tonnes. Raghuramaiah pointed out that measures are being taken to boost port connectivity like four laning of the Chandikhole-Paradeep road and a new railway line between Paradeep and Haridaspur. “About 96 per cent of the work on the four laning of the Chandikhole-Paradeep road is over and it is expected to be commissioned by June this year. The Paradeep-Haridaspur railway line project is being implemented by special purpose vehicle in which PPT has 10 per cent equity and this project is scheduled for completion by June 2010”, he said.