Santosh K Mohapatra, Chief Executive Officer of Dhamra Port Company (DPCL) informed that the company may start second phase expansion of the port in two years.
He said environment clearance for the project is in advanced stage. Once expansion for the second phase is begun, it would be completed in five years, he said.
DPCL is an equal joint venture between Tata Steel and Larsen & Tubro (L&T). The company plans to invest Rs 10,000 crore in the Phase-II expansion project, which would add 75 million tonne capacity to the port. Already the port has a capacity of 25 million tonne.
Dhamra port has two berths and full scale expansion will raise the berth strength to 13. After the second phase expansion, the port will be able to handle container cargo, liquid cargo, LNG (liquefied natural gas) and crude oil, Mohapatra said.
Regarding allocation of land for the project, he said the state government sought some clarifications on routine issues. He clarified that the state government never said they will not allot land to the project.
He further informed that the port has not been able to achieve full capacity utilization as iron ore exports have almost stopped. In this fiscal, it hopes to handle 11-12 million tonne of cargo.
Allotment of additional land to DPCL for second phase development at this stage does not appear tenable. Further claim of additional land by DPCL shall be considered by the state government on the basis of a norm (thumb rule) being formulated, G Mathi Vathanan, secretary (commerce & transport) – Odisha stated in a letter to Santosh K Mohapatra, chief executive officer (DPCL) of DPCL in November 2012.
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