New Coal Terminal project in Kochi gets Clearance from Center

9 January 2014

Kochi

The Union ministry of shipping has approved the tender submitted by the Gujarat-headquartered business conglomerate Adani group for the Cochin Port Trust’s (CPT) proposal to set up an eco-friendly and modern coal terminal.

The new coal terminal, which would combine the port’s existing north coal berth and south coal berth on the Mattancherry Wharf side will have the capacity to handle 4.23 metric tonnes per annum and is estimated to cost roughly Rs 198 crore. Currently, the port handles only about 1,000 tonnes of coal on an average per year.

The facility is to be set on ‘build operate transfer’ (BOT) mode and the successful bidder will be able run it for 30 years. Only Adani group had responded to the tender notice issued by the CPT even after extending the deadline twice.

Finally, the CPT forwarded the tender bid from Adani group to the ministry. The standing finance committee of the ministry approved the proposal at its recent meeting. The terminal will be fully automated and will have nine metre-high vegetation, the port official said. The Tariff Authority for Major Ports ( TAMP) has permitted the port to hike the coal handling charges at the port from Rs 106 per tonne to Rs 230.85 per tonne.

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