After a slump in the export of iron ore in last few years at the Paradip Port, the port once again registered a growth in the export of ore.
Few years back the iron ore was an important component of volume of cargo traffic handled by the Paradip Port Trust (PPT), but later on the PPT could compensate it with export and import of new cargo like iron ore pellets, non coking coal and gypsum, etc. However, there is a rising trend of exports of iron ore in last two months at Paradip.
In April last, the iron ore export was 4.63 lakh tonnes against 1.27 lakh tonnes in the same period a year ago. In the same month, the port posted a total traffic growth of 42.74 per cent at 5.82 million tonnes, the highest among all major ports during the month.
No wonder, the port authorities have started allotting plots to iron ore exporters for storage purpose. As many as 20 bidders had responded to the port’s open tender inviting offers for 15 plots and finally five of them withdrew.
It may be noted that the court cases, involving 48 other iron ore plots allotted earlier, are creating problems because if these plots are not vacated, the work on two build-operate-transfer berths, one for iron ore and the other for coal, cannot be started. PPT Chairman Sudhanshu Sekhara Mishra said that the port management is examining various options to start the work on the iron ore berth early and the options might include even inviting fresh bids as the response of the present successful bidder leaves much to be desired.
The mechanisation of three berths i.e. EQ 1, EQ 2 and EQ 3 on eastern quay of the dock system through public private partnership is receiving top priority, said Mishra, indicating that preliminary level discussion in this regard is in progress with a few public sector companies. The acquisition of two more mobile Harbour Mobile Cranes too is high on the agenda. The PPT is having five Harbour Mobile Cranes, two of which is being operated by the Odisha Stevedores limited, two by the Chennai Radha Engineering Works and one by Jindal Steel and Power limited.