The Hindu Business Line : Ennore Port to boost cargo handling capacity to 87 mt

Chennai April 2 Ennore Port is expanding its cargo handling capacity to 87 million tonnes (mt) a year in the next five years as mandated by the Union Government, according to a press release from Ennore Port Ltd.

The Ennore Port is also extending the road and rail links and has sought over 3,000 acres land from the Tamil Nadu Government in line with a business plan that projects a traffic of about 190 mt of cargo by 2025-26. The plan was formulated by Hamburg Port Consultancy and Consulting Engineers India Pvt Ltd with the Port Rotterdam as the central advisor.

The port has submitted to the Centre a proposal for a modern container terminal. The facility estimated to cost about Rs 1,300 crore would have a capacity to handle 1.5 million TEUs (18 mt). Also, it is awaiting the Centre's permission to start a capital dredging work, which would cost Rs 91 crore.

Works in progress

The port has started the second stage expansion programme in January 2007, with work on the construction of a 3 mt-a-year marine liquid terminal at a cost of Rs 200 crore. Work on the Rs 350-crore, 8 mtcoal terminal and a Rs 500-crore 12-mtiron ore terminal are also under implementation.

On its performance during 2006-07, the port, which has signed an agreement with the Centre on performance targets, has exceeded expectations, the release said.

Since its inception in 2001, the port for the first time crossed the 10-mtmark in cargo handling and crossed the Rs 100-crore mark in income.

During the year ending March 2007, it handled 10.7 mt of cargo and reported an income of Rs 105 crore with a profit of Rs 25.35 crore, against the target of Rs 23.44 crore. It handles 8.80 mt of coal, 1.92 mt of iron ore (through temporary facilities) and 0.19 mt of Petroleum Oil Lubricants.