Vizag harbour is deepest in India

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, March 10, 2014: Vizag port created history by docking, first cape class vessel that carried 1.6 lakh metric tonne Indonesian coal at Vizag General Cargo Berth (VGCB).

The large size cape class vessel ‘MV NGM Sailor’ could be berthed due to the recent efforts of Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) to dredge outer harbour to the depth of 20mts. Vizag port has now become one of the India’s deepest harbour. Unloading of the coal has began at VGCB on Monday.

 “It’s an historic day for Vizag port. It’s been a dream for VPT since 10 years to handle such a big size vessel. This was possible with the dredging of the outer harbour. We are expecting more such vessels every month. Vizag port on the east coast is strategically located and serves a vast hinter land. It will help Vizag port also achieve top position among other major ports in the country,” said VPT, deputy chairman, GVL Satya Kumar.

He added that demand for coal imports would go up in coming years due to increase in installed electricity capacity of 1.5 lakh mw in the country to 4.5 lakh mw by  2030 and more than 75 percent of it is generated by thermal based power plants.

The VPT top official also said that demand for steam coal will also go up with the projected growth of cement and steel production by 2030.  Dredging at the inner harbour of Vizag port to the depth of 16 mts will be completed with in 3 to 4 months adding capacity to handle larger size ships, said Satya Kumar.  

 Vedanta’s VGCB, CEO, DK Manral said that VGCB with its world class and most environment friendly, state of art facility will assist Vziag port attracting, biggest and largest ships to port which would not only bring more tonnage but also much required revenue and generate new employment. It will also drastically reduce pollution by handling coal with its fully mechanized facility.

“With coal likely to continue as the mainstay of India’s energy supply, the country needs to look the new challenges posed by logistical constraints. Around 55 percent of India’s primary, energy supply is coal based and the situation in near future won’t get better. India’s need for coal based energy is on the increase. On account of India’s increased demand of coal supply and political uncertainties in allocating indigenous coal blocs, the import of coal is poised to grow at double digits. On account of India’s huge ever growing energy needs, India along with China has the unique distinction of being on both the top 6 coal producer and top 4 coal importer,” said Manral.

VGCB with the capacity to handle 11mmt per annum had set a record recently by discharging 75, 160 mt from panamx ship in a single day through the fully mechanized system.

While 105mmt of coal was imported during 2011-12, it has gone up to 138 mmt in 2012-13 and 165 mmt in 2013-14; it is projected to go up further to 180mmt in 2014-15, 200mmt by 2015-16 and 226mmt by 2016-17.

During 2014-15 against the demand for 780mmt of coal there was production of only 600mmt with a shortfall of 180mmt which has to be made up by imports. India imports coal from Indonesia, USA, South Africa and Australia.