Ennore Port to involve private companies to expand
By Venkatachari Jagannathan | 24 Sep 2001
Private and public sector companies like Larsen &Toubro,
Reliance, Chennai Petroleum Corporation and Madras Fertilisers
are showing interest in the development of the Rs 1.050
crore Ennore port.
Termed as `Energy Port, it currently has two berths and
proposes to add five more in near future. In the next
five years, it plans to have a total of 22 berths, each
costing anything between Rs.50-70 crore.
There are also plans to set up a chemical park and a 1,
000 MW power plant at Ennore.
The
Ennore port will be mainly handling imports of LNG, chemicals,
minerals and fertiliser for which more berths and piplelines
are required..
The existing berths are dedicated for handling coal for
the north Chennai thermal power station.
This is being done without any formal agreement on tariff
the port and Tamil Nadu Electricity Board which runs the
thermal power station. Port chairman M. Raman decided
to make the port operational just in order that the berths
and other facilities do not remain idle.
As a result TNEB is saving around Rs.300/t of coal conveyed.
Earlier the power plant used get the coal from the Chennai
port through railway wagons. The TNEB is planning to convey
coal to its other power plant at Ennore from Ennore port
via conveyor belt. For this two more dedicated berths
are being planned.
Three options are being considered to finance the building
of the berths. First, develop the berths in collaboration
with some private party and give them out on long term
lease. But Mr. Raman doesnt want to commit heavy investments
on the part of the company.
That aside, the company is calling for consultants to
suggest the land development and use at the shorefront
having the proposed industrial projects. Ennore Port has
3,000 acres of back up area for development.
Besides, Ennore Port is going ahead with its privatisation
of its marine services - tugs and piloting operation.
Twenty two parties have bought the bid documents and
the assets will be sold to the successful bidder, says
Mr. M. Raman. According to him the company has invested
around Rs. 65 crore on marine services.
Speaking about revenues, Mr. Raman is confident of the
port handling 10 million tonnes of cargo and earn Rs.
100 crore.