SHWETA KAMAT
shweta@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Let’s wake up and smell the coal dust, for those who still believe that there is an altruistic motive for the expansion of berth facilities at MPT. Herald has accessed the EIA report for the proposed terminal capacity enhancement at Berths 5A-6A of MPT by WAPCOS Limited, a Government of India undertaking.
Proposing doubling of the coal and iron ore handling facility with its planned terminal capacity enhancement at berth numbers 5A and 6A of MPT, South West Port Limited (SWPL), a company owned by infrastructure giant JSW has projected the handling of 20 million tonnes of coal by 2027-29, with annual traffic increase from 2019-20.
It was only a day ago that Chief Minister Parrikar said he has “no problem” if South West Port Limited (JSW infrastructure company) uses enhanced berth facilities for any other cargo except coal. It is clear that SWPL will use the expansion for no other cargo but coal.
The intention of double tracking the South Western Railway network (SWR) is also clear. The EIA also states that doubling of the network will give a major boost to coal transportation “making it hassle free”.
“SWPL is proposing to modernise and optimise the operation through installation of more efficient and environmental friendly equipment. Increased efficiency of the rake turnarounds would make the evacuation and the dispatch more efficient. Consequentially the total cargo to be handled, through the tracks is expected to go up to 12 to 13 MTPA of bulk (consisting of coal, iron ore, lime stone, dolomite, bauxite, mineral ores and other miscellaneous cargo), and about 2 MTPA of unitised cargo (consisting of steel bars, coils, flats and plates, and other steel products),” the report prepared in June 2017 and submitted to MoEF in August 2017, states.
Coal and iron ore comprise almost 86 percent of the proposed expansion in cargo handling as SWPL intends to increase its capacity from the existing 6.5 million tonnes to 13 million tonnes, while the balance 2 million tonnes would be steel. However, the project proponent has laid a major thrust on coal, with sinking iron ore import.
SWPL has projected 15 million tonnes of coal traffic in 2019-20, 16 million tonnes in 2021-23, 18 million tonnes in 2024-26 and 20 million tonnes in 2027-29.
“Coking coal is mainly imported by JSW steel plants located in the hinterland of the port. During the last three years, there has been a steady increase in coal imports,” the report stated adding, “On the other hand with falling international price for iron ore, the import at low prices to the Indian sub-continent is made affordable. The Western Australian and Brazilian iron ore with higher iron content has made the life of steel makers a lot easier.”
“Accordingly, berths 5A and 6A is likely to see an increase in the import capacity of coal. Iron ore is another probable cargo which could be handled at the berths,” it specified.
“Most of the steel companies are poised for major expansion and the demand for coal is set to go up in the near future. In addition to steel plants, coal imports can also serve power plants which will come up in the hinterlands,” the study reveals.
Let there be no doubt. Massive coal handling expansion is the name of the game and there is no doubt or ambiguity in this.
