The Hindu Business Line : Kochi Refineries gives nod for mooring project

THE board of Kochi Refineries Ltd has approved the feasibility report prepared by Engineers India Ltd for setting up a single buoy mooring (SBM) at Puthuvypeen near here.

The project's estimated cost is Rs 623 crore and is expected to be completed by July 2006.

The proposal to set up an independent crude oil receipt facilities consisting of SBM, a shore tank farm and connected pipelines was taken to reduce costs. KRL has already received a no-objection certificate from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board; the clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests is expected by June.

Senior port officials said they would extend all support to KRL in setting up the facility at Puthuvypeen, which falls under the geographical limits of the port. A senior official said the only demand put forward by KRL before setting up the project is to expedite the work of Goshree Bridges, connecting Puthuvypeen to the mainland.

The work on the bridges has been completed and is awaiting formal inauguration. With this, it is hoped that the SBM project could be completed by 2006, an official said.

An MoU was signed between KRL and the port with regard to wharfage chargeable, lease rentals for the land to be made available by the port for construction of tank farm and other arrangements to be made for SBM operations, he added.