Lanco may soon commence port project work in Australia

Construction is likely to commence in third quarter of 2015 with the site being operational in April 2017

The Australian subsidiary of Lanco Infratech is expected to commence construction of a port from the third quarter of the year, said a notification issued by the Department of Environment, Australia.

The Department, while seeking public opinion on the proposed dredging work at Bunbury port near Griffin Coal mines in Western Australia, said that Lanco Resources Australia Pty Ltd has proposed to undertake dredging of approximately 1.9 million cubic metres as part of the new Berth 14A located within the Inner Harbour of Bunbury Port in Western Australia.

"Port construction is likely to commence in the third quarter of 2015 with the site being operational in April 2017, subject to the relevant approvals and availability of required resources. The export quantity of coal would progressively increase until the full capacity of 15 million tonnes per annum is achieved," the referral document released by the Australian government said.

Dredging activities are proposed to commence in October and last for up to a maximum of 40 weeks.

Lanco officials were not available for comments.

Earlier, a senior official of the Group had said that the $1-billion Griffin coal project comprises three components including operating a mine, development of another mine and construction work at the Bunbury Port.



With coal resources of approximately 1.1 billion tonnes, coal from Griffin caters to the export markets as well. Production at the mine during the year 2013-14 was 2.93 million tonnes while the same was dropped to 2.3 million tonnes during the last fiscal.

"Public comments are invited over a period of 20 business days ending 17 July 2015," the notification said.

The Bunbury Port is an existing operating harbour the Project supports the export of coal from the proposed expansion of the Griffin Coal operations in the Collie Basin through the Project. In order to process this increased volume of coal, new transport facilities, a handling plant and berthing arrangements are required at Bunbury Port to mobilise the coal from the mine to the ship.