Essar Ports invests in Salaya & Vizag

Essar Ports has completed its `2,800 investment of over crore in its Salaya and Vizag terminal projects that has the potential to increase the company’s revenues by 30 per cent in FY2018-19 on the back of third-party cargo growth. Rajiv Agarwal, CEO, Essar Ports, said, “The two fully integrated and automated facilities at Salaya and Vizag further the goal of port-led development set by the Government of India. It is also a manifestation of Essar’s vision of building world-class core sector assets of national importance.” Essar Bulk Terminal Salaya has also commenced commercial operations at its 20 million tonne dry bulk terminal at Salaya with the berthing of its first vessel.

The Salaya terminal, which has been built at `2,000 a cost of crore, is expected to emerge as the most preferred deep draft port destination for shipment of dry bulk cargo in the Saurashtra region. It is capable of berthing vessels of up to 100,000 tonnes DWT, while handling commodities like coal, bauxite, limestone and fertilisers, including both export and import cargoes. The port’s infrastructure is best in class and compliant with global safety standards. It is equipped with two screw type ship unloaders, each of 2,500 TPH (tonnes per hour) capacity; one 1,500 TPH ship loader; a 20-km covered conveyor system of 5,000 TPH capacity; dust suppression and extraction systems and a series of stacker cum reclaimers.

The stockyard is integrated with nearby power plants that have a cumulative capacity of 1,710 MW capacity, with the conveyor system ensuring environmentfriendly movement of coal. The conveyor is a complex 20-km network spread across both land and sea and enables cargo loading and unloading on the same jetty.

Capt Deepak Sachdeva, CEO, Essar Bulk Terminal Salaya, said, “Quick turnaround and our ability to handle vessels up to 100,000 DWT will give a significant competitive edge to our customers.”