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CONCESSION AGREEMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF HAZIRA PORT SIGNED IN
PRESENCE OF HON. CHIEF MINISTER
Today, the state entity responsible
for the development of the port sector, Gujarat Maritime Board has
signed an agreement with Hazira Port Private Limited, a fully
owned subsidiary of the Royal Dutch Shell Group of companies for
the development of Hazira Port in Surat district. By granting
approval to the concession agreement, the state government has
achieved an important milestone in the state's infrastructure
development.
The development of Hazira port is envisaged in two phases, the
first phase of which would entail the development of port
infrastructure to handle LNG imports and the second phase would
entail developing the port facilities for handling dry bulk and
containerised cargo. It is estimated that the full fledged port
development would attract cargo to the tune of about 16 MMT per
annum.
The completion of the first phase of development would provide
direct berthing facility for the LNG vessel up to the capacity of
1.45 lakhs cubic meters. During the second phase, it is planned to
develop direct berthing facilities for the vessel size up to
1,50,000 DWT to handle dry bulk, and container ship size up to
4000 TEUs.
The composite port development at Hazira is aimed at developing
port related infrastructure and LNG regasification facilities. In
the initial stage, it is planned to develop port facilities to
import 5MMTPA LNG and regasification facilities with the estimated
investment of Rs.2500 crore. The estimated future investments in
the expansion of container & dry bulk terminals would amount to
the total investment of Rs.5250 crore for the project.
It is envisaged that this project would accelerate the pace of
industrial development of the state, as it would provide
environmental- friendly source of energy, and contribute towards
augmenting the power supply to the industrial units in the state.
The state body responsible for contribution in the industrial
growth, iNDEXTb shall be working in close collaboration with Shell
for reducing energy cost with improved environmental protection
among the existing industries, enhancing their productivity and
promoting new gas based industries in the state.
Upon commissioning of the port operations, GMB would earn
waterfront royalty as per terms of the agreement on LNG in the
first phase, and subsequently earnings would accrue from the dry
bulk and container traffic. The state government shall also be
earning revenue through sales tax from sales of gas.
Gandhinagar
Dt. 22.4.2002
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