Crude oil and coal have contributed significantly for growth in cargo handling at New Mangalore Port during first quarter of 2013-14.
P. Tamilvanan, Chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), told Business Line here that the port handled a total of 9.66 million tonnes of cargo during April-June of 2013-14 against 8.61 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, recording a growth of 12.2 per cent.
Key contributors
Stating that the port is doing better during the current financial year also, he said crude oil and petroleum products of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) and coal cargo are the main contributors for this growth.
The port handled 3.51 mt (3 mt) of imported crude oil for MRPL during the period. The export of petroleum products from the refinery, through New Mangalore Port, increased from 1.43 mt in the first quarter of 2012-13 to 1.81 mt during the first three months of 2013-14.
The handling of coal cargo at the port witnessed a growth of 60 per cent during the first quarter. The port handled 2.66 mt (1.66 mt) of coal cargo during the period. Of this, the share of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) stood at 1.1 mt (0.67 mt). This company operates a 1200 MW coal-based thermal power station in the neighbouring Udupi district.
During the first quarter, the port also handled some new cargoes such as limestone (27,500 tonnes), gypsum (82,519 tonnes), and wheat (33,000 tonnes). He said that these cargoes were not there in the first quarter of 2012-13.
Tamilvanan said that steps would be taken to improve container cargo at the port in the coming days. The port handled 1.84 lakh tonnes (1.82 lakh tonnes) of container cargo during the period.
vinayak.aj@thehindu.co.in