Indicating a positive change in investment in port sector in the state, one more cement terminal is being set up at the Cochin Port with private participation. Cement producing company Zuari Cements won the tender and auction for developing a cement handling terminal at the Cochin Port Trust. This will be the third cement handling terminal at the port.
Ambuja Cements is already operating a terminal with a capacity of 3 lakh tonnes per annum, while Ultra Tech is setting up another with a capacity of 2 lakh tonnes.
Bagging plants are meant for cement-producing companies large companies that transport bulk quantities of cement through ships.
Zuari Cements won the auction by quoting and amount of `50 crore. They also have to pay an annual fee of `66 lakh to the Port Trust. The third terminal is coming up on 2.14 hectares of land near Q5 berth of Ernakulam wharf. The proposed terminal will have a handling capacity of 3.6 lakh tonnes annually. The developer also has to install loading, unloading and bagging machinaries. The cement is pumped from the ship to the plant where it will be packed in bags and delivered to markets in Kerala as well as neighbouring states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Port authorities said.
“New facilities with private participation indicate that the investment climate in port sector in Kochi has changed. It may be noted that there had not been strike or work interruption for the past three years,” the Port authorities said.
A fourth terminal which will have a handling capacity of 10 lakh tonnes per annum would also come up on the port premises soon.
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