As a major hub for Coastal Shipping, Paradip Port stands at number one position among Indian Ports for handling highest cargo by coastal shipping among all ports of the country.
Paradip Port Chairman P L Haranadh said, “Considering the logistic services available at Paradip Port, the Port is being increasingly preferred by various Gencos as a part of coastal shipping.
During FY 2022-23, it handled 42.2MMT coastal thermal coal, registering phenomenal growth of 50 percent over 28 MMT recorded in previous fiscal.
Presently, Paradip Port handles coastal shipping of thermal coal from Mahanadi Coalfields, Talcher
to Gencos of Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
The port has commenced movement of thermal coal from MCL to Gencos, located on West Coast to meet the burgeoning power demand of the Western states.
PPA Chairman P.L. Haranadh flagged off MV Mana carrying 52,000 Metric Tonnes coals for Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd from the EQ2 berth of PEQCTPL Terminal to PNP Port, Dharamtar in Maharashtra.
In the first phase, over a period of next four months, 3.5 lakh Metric Tonnes of thermal coal will be shipped on account of M/s Gandhar Coals & Mining Pvt.Ltd., Logistics & Port Management Service (PMS) by Stevedores – Ace Commercial Co. Pvt. Ltd.
Gencos of Western coast are also planning to use the services of PPA for transportation of thermal coal to these plants.
The current movement to Maha Genco is only a beginning and many other Gencos of Gujrat, Rajasthan, NTPC are evincing keen interest in coastal shipping of thermal coal via Paradip Port, Haranadh said.
