Kamarajar Port plans expansion

Kamarajar Port Ltd (KPL) at Ennore has drawn up plans to upgrade its cargo handling capacity from the existing 30 million tonnes to 100 million tonnes by 2020-21.

A decision to this effect was taken at KPL’s board meeting, in which it was decided to augment the port’s capacity by over three-fold considering the competition it might face from the neighbouring ports such as Chennai Port, Krishnapatnam Port and L&T Kattupalli Port.

Talking to

The Hindu , KPL chairman-cum-managing director M.A. Bhaskarachar said: “As part of the ongoing expansion programme, we are increasing the capacity to 38.8 million tonnes, for which we have already awarded the contracts in the last two years. The civil works on the 16.8 million-tonne container terminal has commenced. And, it will become operational by June 2016. Similarly, the 2-million tonne multi-cargo terminal will start functioning by the same time.”

According to him, the ongoing expansion calls for upgrading the coal berth-2 and enhancing common user coal terminal-1 (2 MT). Besides, Indian Oil Corporation is putting up the Rs.5,150-crore five million-tonne liquefied natural gas terminal, which would become operational by 2018. It would be first such facility on the east coast.

In the next two-three years, KPL plans to award projects with a total capacity of 32 million tonnes. It includes constructing a common user marine terminal-2, coal berth-4 for Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, developing second automobile export terminal, captive berth for bulk cargo and upgradation of conversion of iron ore terminal.

The tender for construction of coal berth-4 would be issued next month, while other projects would be awarded next year, he said.

Last year, KPL handled 27 million tonnes of cargo against its capacity of 24 million tonnes. It is hoping to close the current year with 30 MT and had handled around 22.5 MT till December.