The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, SEPT 5, 2023
Odisha’s largest port and one of the Major Ports of India, Paradip Port will be transformed as a green and smart port by the year 2030. This was revealed by Paradip Port Authority (PPA) Chairman PL Haranadh on the sidelines of the roadshow organised by the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) in Bhubaneswar today, in the run-up to the third edition of the Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS)-2023.
PPA has already chalked out plans for making the Port a green and smart one. As per the plan, most of the port activities will be mechanised. There will be no dumper movement inside the port. After 2030, vehicles run by carbon fuel won’t be allowed to enter the Port, said the PPA Chairman adding that vehicles only run by LNG, CNG and Electricity will be allowed.
The port will also focus on solar power production and ensure shore-to-port power through renewable energy, said the PPA Chairman.
The PPA Chairman further said that Paradip Port will be the only port in India to be brought under 1 billion trees coverage by 2025-26. The Port has planted more than 3 lakh trees in the last two years and targets to plant 1 lakh more during this year.
Speaking on PPA’s participation in GMIS-2023, Haranadh said that Paradip Port has a specific role in the Summit. “We are targeting three different categories – Capacity Augmentation, Widening of Cargo Basket, and Making Paradip Port a Green and Smart Port.
PPA, whose present cargo handling capacity stands at 290 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA), is implementing strategies to raise its capacity to 400 MMTPA at an investment of Rs 5700 crore in the next 6-7 years. This capacity enhancement plan will create business opportunities for international investors and bring the best practices to Paradip.
As part of the capacity enhancement, PPA will have 4 new berths and mechanise 4 existing berths to facilitate entry of large size vessels. Most importantly, Paradip Port will develop as an exclusive Hydrogen berth making the port as a hydrogen hub, informed the PPA Chairman.
Paradip Port which is basically handling coal and iron ore cargo, now plans to widen its cargo basket by handling containers, green hydrogen and green ammonia, blast furnace slag, LPG and chemicals & petro-chemicals, said Haranadh, adding that there will be discussion with investors regarding this during GMIS-2023 and new business opportunities will be explored.
