`Jamnagar Port Can Handle 50 Mt'

The Reliance group's mega port at Jamnagar, Gujarat will have facilities to import more than 50 million tonne of cargo when ready by 1999-2000.

Apart from servicing its own needs, the group also plans to lease it out to outside agencies, including the government, for their requirements.

Top Reliance sources said the port, when completed, will be the single largest port in the country handling more cargo than either Mumbai and Kandla whose capacities are 33 million tonne each.

The sources said the group may allow outside agencies to import cargo for a fee thereby easing congestion at both Mumbai and Kandla.

The port project, being implemented by a group company, Reliance Ports and Terminals, is being built alongside the mega refinery of Reliance Petroleum and the petrochemicals complex of Reliance Industries.

More than 40 per cent of the port's capacity will be utilised in-house for importing crude oil feedstock for its refinery which is slated to be commissioned sometime in mid-1999.

A part of the port facilities are already operational, and are receiving equipment for the project. The company has already completed a jetty to service the complex, and to facilitate the inflow of project material. The jetty is now capable of handling all inward consignments of equipment including the ones weighing over 1,200 tonne.

With the introduction of trade liberalisation and subsequent revisions in 1995 has resulted in the port traffic experiencing an annual growth rate of 7-10 per cent. Almost all the major ports in the country are operating above 100 per cent of their rated capacities.

RIL's Jamnagar port will not only handle crude and petroleum products but will also export petrochemical products and certain refinery throughputs. The overall capacity of the Jamnagar petrochemicals complex is expected to rise over 9 million tpa by 2,000.

During the first half of 1998-99, the company sold 96 per cent of its production within India.

However, export opportunities are expected to be tapped seriously once the refinery goes on stream. Total exports, including deemed exports, increased by more than 230 per cent to Rs 286 crore compared with Rs 86 crore in the first half of 1997-98.