The Hindu Business Line : Paradip port starts handling Class A petroleum products

PARADIP port has started handling Class A petroleum products for the first time. A consignment of 9,000 tonnes of motor spirit was recently unloaded at the port's oil jetty. The consignment was brought by Indian Oil Corporation from Haldia by the vessel "Jag Preeti". On unloading, the product was transported by pipeline from the jetty to IOC's tankage located nearby.

The port was so far handling only limited quantities of Class B products, namely, high-speed diesel and superior kerosene oil. This was because IOC had reservation about the available facilities, which, it was felt, were inadequate for handling Class A products such as motor spirit, LPG and aviation turbine fuel. As these items are highly combustible, special measures are required to be taken prior to their handling. "Now that the necessary precautionary measures are in place, IOC should have no problem in handling Class A products," observe PPT sources.

While no firm indication is available as yet about the probable throughput of Class A products at the port in the current year, it is hoped that an estimated 30,000-40,000 tonnes might be handled till March 31, 2006. But then, much will depend on the oil companies, particularly IOC. The throughput of Class B products at the port has so far has been around 500,000 tonnes with the target for the year being fixed at a little less than 900,000 tonnes. Now that Class A products have started arriving, port authorities have reasons to feel bullish. The hope is that the throughput of the oil jetty might be around 1.5 million tonnes in 2005-06.

The hope is bolstered by the fact that from March next year, if everything proceeds as per schedule, Paradip should also start handling crude. The single point mooring, now under construction, should be ready for operation by that time, it is felt.

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