India’s Ministry of Shipping has approved a tender submitted by the Adani Group to establish both an eco-friendly and fully automated coal terminal at the port of Cochin. The facility, which will bring together the existing north and south coal berths at Mattancherry Wharf, will be able to handle 4.23 million tonnes annually. Its construction will cost around $32 million.
On offer is a concession to run the facility for 30 years, for which Adani was the only bidder, despite the tender bidding deadline being extended twice.
The Port Trust is to make available 14 acres of land for the project, which will be served by a single 300-metre berth. It is believed traffic will be generated by local steel and cement industries and also by those in neighbouring states, such as Tamil Nadu.
Barry Cross