Ennore port gains from CPT’s loss

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The high court ban on handling of dusty cargo at Chennai Port Trust (CPT) has led to increase in coal imports at Ennore port, which is situated 20 km north of Chennai port. Further, the coal importers have also moved to other nearby private ports like Karaikal and Krishnapatnam.

The Ennore port has seen a 36 per cent increase in overall coal handling, with about 500 per cent growth at the non-TNEB berth in the first quarter ending June 2012 compared to the same period last year. “The stoppage of coal handling at CPT is the main reason for surge in coal handling at Ennore,” Ennore port CMD S. Velumani told this newspaper.

However, he added that the handling of coal at TNEB berths has come down by 19 per cent. “The reduction in coal handling at TNEB berths was due to availability of stock in its warehouse,” said Mr Velumani adding, that the intake would pick up soon, as commissioning of new power plants at North Chennai, Vallur and Mettur is in the pipeline.

He further said the port is already in the process of acquiring environmental clearance for one more exclusive coal berth with nine million tonne capacity for TNEB. At present, the two TNEB berths have the capacity to handle 16 million tonne of coal per annum, while the non-TNEB berth can handle eight million tonne of coal per annum.

Karaikal Port’s executive director M. L. N. Acharyulu said, all cement companies in the Ariyalur belt have shifted to Karaikal now. “Lot of coal importers, who were earlier using CPT have also started using our facility,” he added.

Krishnapatnam port’s vice president Suresh Anand too acknowledged that coal handling has increased in their port. “It was dull for sometime. But now, we have got new contracts,” he added.