Asia/Pacific News
More Bunkering Part of Indian Port Expansion Project
The Indian government says it has signed a concession agreement for a new liquid jetty and bunkering facility at Kandla Port as part of a larger port expansion project.
The Minister of Shipping, Shri G.K. Vasan, dedicated two new terminals at the port Saturday, Multi Purpose Cargo Berth No.15 and IFFCO barge jetty, adding new capacity of 4 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) for an investment of Rs. 216 crore ($34.7 million).
Six new concession agreements, with M/s. AV Joshi & Co., M/s. Aditya Marine Ltd., M/s. Balaji Heavy Lifters Pvt. Ltd., M/s. Rishi Shipping, M/s. Frost International Ltd., and M/s. IMC Ltd., were signed for capacity addition and modernization projects, representing a Rs. 471 crore ($75.7 million) investment to add 13.39 mtpa of capacity.
Vasan said the Indian government is pushing for new private investment to meet the growing demand for maritime infrastructure.
He said the planned bunkering facility will reduce waiting and turnaround time for tankers and increased cargo handling capacity at the port, which is already an important destination for liquid cargos.
The port said late last year that it intended to grow its liquid cargo capacity and said India has the capacity to be a major bunker supplier.
