Kamarajar Port starts building 3 coal berths

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Kamarajar Port, formerly known as Ennore Port, has started constructing three coal berths that would be ready by March 2018, said a top official.

“We will be investing close to ₹1,000 crore on building two new berths and converting the existing iron ore berth into a coal berth,” said M.A. Bhaskarachar, chairman-cum-managing director, Kamarajar Port.

With the addition of three more coal berths, the cumulative coal handling capacity of KPL will touch 64 million tonnes per annum. The new berths will add 36 million tonnes of coal per annum. Besides, the port handles 3 million tonnes liquid cargo, 3 million tonnes of general cargo and two million tonnes multi-cargo and containers.

“Our plan is to increase total cargo volume of the port from the existing 43.6 million tonnes to 84.6 million tonnes by March 2018. The commissioning of the IOC-LNG terminal will get us another 5 million tonnes per annum. Even then, KPL will predominantly handle coal accounting for 60% of overall cargo,” he said.

Out of the planned capital expenditure of ₹1,000 crore, IOC and SICAL will invest ₹500 crore and balance will be met through internal accruals.

Source-thehindu