Gopalpur port, Berhampur

Gopalpur port, Berhampur

Saraf Agencies to invest Rs 5,000 cr on titanium park SEZ at Chatrapur in Ganjam

Even as the row between Kolkata-based Saraf Agencies and Russian promoters over the jinxed titanium project is yet to settle, the Indian promoter has reaffirmed its commitment on the project. Saraf Agencies has unveiled Rs 5,000-cr investment plan that will also include a titanium park besides the titanium dioxide plant, a project proposed at Chhatrapur in south Odisha's Ganjam district that has hitherto remained a non-starter.

"Presently, we have got 260 acres of land at the project site. We have sought additional 250 acres of land for developing a titanium park. Our total investment on the titanium dioxide plant and titanium park will be Rs 5,000 crore,” SM Shroff, chairman, Saraf Agencies told the media after meeting chief secretary BK Patnaik. On the titanium dioxide plant, he said, “We are going to perform the ground breaking ceremony on January 17. Production of titanium slag is expected to commence by April 2014 while titanium dioxide production is set to start within 20 months of the ground breaking ceremony.” Shroff said his company would set up the titanium plant on its own without any joint venture partner.

Saraf Agencies will build the titanium plant with the help of Chinese technology. The company claimed to have placed advances of Rs 15 crore to Chinese equipment suppliers. When asked about the ongoing dispute with the Russian promoters, he said, “In compliance with the order given by the department of industrial policy and promotion, the land for the titanium project was transferred to the joint venture (JV) company. But the Russian promoters announced that they are not keen on implementing the project. The matter is now under arbitration.” Chief secretary BK Patnaik said, “Saraf Agencies is interested to set up the titanium project on the acquired land. We have to examine whether it is permissible or not.”

The titanium project proposed to be set up at Chhatrapur in south Odisha's Ganjam district has had a tortuous journey for over four years. Initially conceived as an Indo-Russian joint venture, the project grounded to a halt after its Indian promoter- Saraf Agencies walked out of the project following intractable differences with the Russian proponents. Of late, Saraf Agencies had revived its interest in the project as land was in its possession. The company had communicated its intent to the state government, stating that it was keen to implement the titanium plant on its own. Saraf Agencies has also submitted its proposal to the Ganjam district administration and Land Losers' Welfare Association, seeking their cooperation for implementing the project even as the company is embroiled in a legal battle with its erstwhile partner. The two partners had sparred over the controversial manner of allotment of land by Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco). Idco had allotted land for the titanium project to Saraf Agencies at Chhatrapur but the Russian promoters had opposed it, demanding land allocation in the name of Titanium Products Private Limited (TPPL), a special purpose vehicle formed for the project on January 29, 2008. As per the original scheme of things, the Russian partners- State Property Management Agency had 51% stake in the JV and Tekhnokhim Holding 4% stake.

Source: Business Standard

GPL announces financial closure - Stage set for all-weather Gopalpur port

Gopalpur Ports Ltd (GPL) announced financial closure for the first phase of its all weather direct berthing deepwater port at Gopalpur. The company would be constructing breakwaters with at least three or four berths to handle large vessels with associated material handling equipment, stockyards, warehouses and railway infrastructure in Phase-I.

Managing Director Mahimananda Mishra said that the closure was achieved with a consortium of 11 banks coming forward to support with a total loan amount of Rs 848.78 crore. The loan agreement was signed with the consortium led by Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, State Bank of India, SB of Travancore, Dena Bank, OBC, UBI, Union Bank, Indian Bank and UCO Bank. For the first time, the largest infrastructure financer India Infrastructure Finance Corporation Ltd has participated in a project in Orissa. The project is estimated to be to the tune of Rs 1,400 crore with the rest of the funding relying on investment by promoters and internal accruals.

Following the financial achievement, the stage is set for conversion of the minor port to an all-weather one. Environmental clearance for the project is under process of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and is likely to be handed over soon. “We expect to land the necessary clearances in the next month and a half, and target completing the first phase work in 18 months. GPL has already started the process of awarding contracts,” Mishra said. The port after full development is envisaged to handle 25 million tonne of cargo.

Jointly promoted by a consortium between Orissa Stevedores Limited (OSL) and Sara International Limited (SIL) and operational under a concession agreement from the State Government, the port currently has an anchorage facility and open from September to May.

Director Charchit Mishra said that the port handled five million tonne of cargo during the last shipping season 2009-10 marking an overwhelming 90 per cent increase over 2008-09. The port directly employs 4,500 persons and has revitalised the local economy of the area, he said.

Source: The New Indian Express

Oil Spill stops at Gopalpur Port, near Berhampur in Orissa, Olive Ridleys safe

Berhampur:  In a huge relief to the authorities and environmentalists, the spillage of oil from the Indonesian ship at the Gopalpur Port near Berhampur city in Orissa, finally came to a halt.

It has been confirmed that the nesting site of Olive Ridleys near the port in Rushikulya rookery is safe and there is no danger to the rare Olive Ridleys.

On Monday evening, a barge lost control due to rough weather and hit the Indonesian ship MV Malavika anchored near the Gopalpur port. That resulted in oil spillage.An oil coat was found spread over a seven km area off the beach – just 200 metres from the site of the eggs,

The Engineers made all efforts to transfer the oil from the damaged unit. About 7,000 litres of oil poured into the sea before they could stop the spillage. The water and sand were blackened by the oil spillage.

Gopalpur port director said the situation is under control with both port and Coast Guard personnel working to stop any oil spill. The entire fuel oil from the ship was transferred to a tanker within an hour.Efforts are on from the authorities, the local people and nature lovers to purify the water and remove the oil from the sea.

Source: Breaking News

Gopalpur port Phase-II to be completed by 2010

The second phase work of the Gopalpur Port, being developed by Gopalpur Ports Limited (GPL), is expected to be completed by October 2010. The company has submitted the detailed project report (DPR) for the second phase work which is under the consideration of the Orissa government, minister of state for transport and commerce Sanjeev Kumar Sahoo said.

The company commissioned the first phase (anchorage port) in January 2007 and has handled a cargo of 5,43,195 metric tonne through 29 ships since then. The minister said, during the bidding process, the consortium led by the Orissa Stevedores Ltd. (OSL) projected a capital expenditure of Rs 720 crore for the port. This includes Rs 20 crore for upgradation and rehabilitation of existing lightrage port in the first phase.

The second phase work is divided into two stages with the first phase comprising of civil and marine works worth Rs 483 crore and second stage envisaging another Rs 217 crore investment. However, GPL has indicated the total investment to be Rs 2000 crore in the second phase DPR which has been submitted to the state government. The revised investment proposals include Rs 150 crore in the first phase, Rs 1100 in the second phase and Rs 750 crore for further expansion.

Regarding the progress of the project, Sahoo said, the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has given its consent for the project and it has obtained the no-objection certificate from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) for withdrawal of ground water on 12 March 2009. The company has been asked to obtain the environmental clearance from the Union ministry of environment and forests and coastal zone management authority (CZMA). The company has so far invested Rs 110 crore.
Source: Business Standard and http://www.gopalpurports.com/