Coal news and updates

Kandla Port expects to meet the cargo handling target in the current fiscal

May 6: Kandla Port Trust (KPT) expects to handle 100 million ton (mt) cargo in the current financial year (2014-15) and is confident to meet the target set by the Ministry of Shipping, an official of the port told ICMW.

"With the substantial capacity additions at the port, it is expected that KPT will cross the 100 mt mark during 2014-15," the official said.

The port official said that to achieve the target, port authorities are trying to commission the container terminal of the port by the first quarter of the current financial year. The port is also auctioning land as per the new Land Policy Guidelines.

"The port is actively participating and conducting trade meets with importers and exporters of other dry cargoes, in order to attract more cargoes at the port," the official added.

The port handled 87.00 mts of cargo during 2013-14, down 7.06% from 93.61 mt handled in 2012-13, while its rival Mundra Port handled 100 mt cargo in the same period compared to 82.13 mt in 2012-13, registering a growth of almost 22%.