Coal news and updates

Haldia Dock to invest Rs 590 cr in 2 coal terminals

In order to increase coal handling, the Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) has decided to set up two new coal handling terminals, Outer Terminal 1 and Outer Terminal 2, with a combined capacity of 9.4 million tons (mt).  

A senior HDC official told ICMW that feasibility studies of both these projects would be taken up shortly and it is expected that construction of this Rs 590-crore project would start in financial year 2017-18.

Explaining the justification of setting up these coal terminals, the official said that HDC would handle 40 mt coal on average per year. But keeping an eye on the potential of coastal shipping of coal from the coal-rich regions of Bihar and Jharkhand to southern India and imports of the fuel, HDC has decided to go for these terminals.

As per the dock official, currently, there is one terminal each for handling overseas
and inland coal at HDC.

As per the official, Outer Terminal 1 would cost around Rs 400 crore and would handle 5.4 mt dry bulk cargo. On the other hand, outer Terminal 2 would need investment of Rs 190 crore and handle 4 mt of cargo.

The projects would be done through public-private-partnership (PPP) and the time-limit of the construction period would be 24 months.

The official said, “These would be mainly coal terminals. But, if needed, other dry bulk cargoes would be handled too.”