India: Paradip Port Introduces Mechanised Handling for Iron Ore Pellets

Paradip Port Trust (PPT) has introduced the facility of loading Iron Ore Pellets using Mechanized Coal Handling Plant (MCHP).

Loading for a trial shipment of 57,000 tonnes of iron ore pellets of an exporter Brahmani River Pellets Ltd (BRPL) has been commenced in the Vessel MV AURELIA berthed at Coal Berth # 1 in the MCHP on October 12. The loading in the trial shipment is expected to be completed in 40 hours as against 72 hours in a manual berth.

This new venture of handling pellets through MCHP would be beneficial to both Paradip Port Trust as well as the exporters making a win-win situation for both. Whereas the Exporter would benefit by reduction in its handling cost because of faster turnaround of their Vessels, Paradip Port Trust would benefit by making a better and efficient utilization of its facilities and a drastic reduction in the congestion of intra-port roads caused by the IPT dumpers. The new facility being extended by PPT comes as an advantage to the iron ore pellet producers in Odisha. This measure will help both, the exporters by reducing vessel turnaround time and the port optimally utilizing the capacity.

Pellet Exports from Paradip Port

Paradip port was the largest exporter for the first nine month of 2017. It has exported 2.1 MnT in the first nine month of 2017 and increased its exports multiple times compared to last year same period. However port export has down 60% M-o-M to 0.22 MnT in Sept'17 against 0.56 MnT in Aug'17.