Ahmedabad: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has emerged as the highest bidder for two dry bulk berths at Paradip Port in Odisha, adding 18 million tonnes per annum (MMTPA) to its cargo handling capacity. APSEZ has received the Letter of Award for the development and operation of the CQ-I and CQ-II berths. The project will be awarded under a 30-year concession through the public-private partnership (PPP) model.The addition will take APSEZ’s total cargo handling capacity to 671MMTPA from 653MMTPA. APSEZ will develop mechanised cargo handling systems, deep-draft berths and storage facilities at the terminal.The Paradip project marks APSEZ’s entry into Odisha’s largest port and India’s second-largest major port. Paradip is a key gateway for bulk cargo and serves a mineral-rich hinterland with major steel and industrial clusters.The new capacity will allow APSEZ to handle larger volumes of coal, limestone and other dry bulk commodities. It will also strengthen the company’s access to industrial centres across eastern and central India.APSEZ already has around 140MMT of capacity across Haldia, Dhamra, Gopalpur and Gangavaram on the eastern coast.“The Paradip concession will strengthen APSEZ’s presence on the East Coast and expand our access to one of India’s most important industrial and mineral-rich hinterlands,” said Ashwani Gupta, whole-time director and CEO, APSEZ.The company said the project would add capacity amid rising cargo demand and high utilisation at ports on the East Coast. Growth in the steel sector and increased domestic coal production are expected to support dry bulk volumes.
