Essar Bulk Terminal Ltd (EBTL), that operates the 50 million tonne per annum (MTPA) bulk terminal in Hazira, Gujarat, India said a 22 per cent growth in its third-party business during the first quarter ended 30 June 2019, on a year- on-year basis.
The Company achieved an overall cargo throughput of 7 MT (million tonnes) in Q1 FY2019-20, of which 1.1 MT was third-party cargo. The share of third-party cargo in overall cargo volumes also rose to 15.7%.
According to the port operator, there is a significant upswing in the region’s economic activity and the Hazira terminal is well placed to capitalize on the opportunity. The focus on operational efficiencies and increase in third-party cargo will be major catalysts in fueling future growth.
Essar Ports is one of India’s largest private sector port and terminal developers and operators. It has invested Rs 11,000 crore in developing five world-class terminals in three Indian states. Its current operations span four terminals with a combined capacity of 110 MTPA, which is roughly 5 percent of India’s port capacity.
The Company is a leader in the non-containerized bulk cargo space. Having clocked a throughput of 40 MT in FY19, Essar Ports is expecting to handle over 60 MT in the current financial year.
All Essar Ports terminals use advanced cargo handling infrastructure and are equipped to double capacity in the near to medium term. The Company is therefore focussed on not only enhancing cargo throughput, but also on ramping up capacity and contributing meaningfully to the Government of India’s ambitious target of developing 3,130 MT of port capacity in the country by 2020.
Outside India, Essar’s port assets include a liquid terminal in the UK and a coal berth in the development stage at Mozambique’s Beira port.