Mundra Port and SEZ will develop dry and liquid cargo handling facilities at Hazira on the North West coast of India
Adani promoted private enterprise, Mundra Port and SEZ Ltd (MPSEZL) will develop non-LNG cargo port facilities for handling bulk, break bulk, containers and liquid cargo at Hazira which is based on the North West coast of India. The letter of Intent has been awarded by Hazira Port Pvt Ltd to MPSEZL which turned out winner in global bidding.
Hazira Port Private Limited (HPPL) is a joint venture company between the Royal Dutch Shell Group and the Total Group. Royal Dutch Shell considered one of world’s largest integrated oil and gas groups and Total the 4th largest Oil and Gas player in the world. HPPL built the Hazira (Surat) Port and has been operating the LNG terminal at there since 2002.
Giving details of the project Capt Sandeep Mehta, CEO, Container and Logistics Business of MPSEPL stated, “The overall Master plan of the port provides for the development of 13 berths in a phased manner, starting with the three to four berths for container, dry bulk and liquid in the first phase. The construction is expected to start as soon as all statutory approvals are secured.” However, he refused to divulge the financial details and other commercial aspects of their sub-concession deal which is for a period of 35 years.
“We are in the process of entering into an agreement with Wallenius Wilhelmsen whose car carriers will call at our port sometime in early next year,” informed Capt Mehta. “We are also setting up cargo terminals at Dahej, in Gujarat and at Mormugao in Goa. We will be soon signing a MOU for setting up a terminal in Indonesia and looking at other opportunities in other South East Asia and Africa.”
MPSEZL operates the largest private port at Mundra in India in terms of cargo throughput. Having notched 36 million tons in 2008-09 it expects to crest the 44 million mark in this fiscal. At Mundra it is developing the world’s largest and fully mechanized coal import terminal with a capacity of 50 million tons to cater to various power projects nearing completion in the region including the ones being set up by the TATA and Adani Groups. Additionally, a single buoy mooring for crude oil imports is being set up to cater to the HPCL Mittal’s upcoming refinery at Bhatinda. Ones all these projects are in place the total cargo throughput capacity will exceed 100 million tons by 2012-13.