Hazira and Mumbai: The 550-metre berth of Essar Bulk Terminal Limited (EBTL) in Hazira is being augmented by a further 1,100 metres to accommodate the steady growth in cargo throughput at the port, said the company in a statement issued here.

EBTL is also developing an LNG import terminal that will have Essar Group companies as anchor customers. With this expansion, the capacity of the terminal will increase from 30 million tonnes currently to 50 million tonnes. Total investment in the expansion projects will be approximately Rs 3,000 crore, the statement further said.

The company said, ‘In the quarter ending 30 June 2016, traffic at the port increased by 80%– from 2.4 million tonnes in Q1FY16 to 4.4 million tonnes in Q1FY17. The total port traffic is expected to reach 24 million tonnes in FY2016-17 from 12.7 million tonnes in FY2015-16.’

The company in its statemen also informed that EBTL has received permission from the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) to handle 15 million tonnes of third-party cargo over the next three years. Third-party traffic is already ramping up—from 0.75 million tonnes in FY2015-16, it is expected to reach 5 million tonnes in FY2017-18.

Commenting on the development, Capt. S Das, CEO-EBTL, said: “The Hazira Terminal has been integral to fulfilling the cargo handling requirement of several Essar companies. The expanded terminal will not only help us service the enhanced requirements of our anchor customers, but also cater to our growing volumes of third-party cargo.”

Company on its LNG Terminal:

Alongside the capacity expansion, EBTL informs it is developing a 5-million tonne LNG terminal that will be able to receive the gas requirements of Essar Steel and Essar Power, in addition to other users.

EBTL further states, LNG import will enable Essar Steel’s 10 million tonne flat steel making capacity in Hazira—which needs 6 mmscmd of LNG annually to operate all its gas-based units—to achieve 100% utilisation. Essar Power, on the other hand, will be able to operate its two gas-based power plants in Hazira, which have an aggregate capacity of 1,015 MW, with 4 mmscmd of gas annually.

Mr Rajiv Agarwal, CEO & Managing Director, Essar Ports Limited, said: “EBTL has huge potential and is moving in the right direction to unlock that potential. Its performance in the last one year has been extremely heartening. I have no doubt that with the expansion project and the new LNG import terminal, the company will scale new heights.”

DeshGujarat