Catering to the overwhelming response from major players in the industry, the Cochin Port Trust is planning to set up a fourth cement terminal in Willingdon Island.
The proposed fourth terminal is coming up on 3.19 hectares of leased land at the north end of Mattanchery wharf on the island.
Showcasing a handling capacity of 10 lakh tonnes, the Port authorities have invited tender for the same.
“The interest shown by companies to set up and operate terminals indicates a positive change in attitude towards investment in the port sector, especially in Kochi. It may be noted that there has not been any strike or work interruption at the port during the last three years,” said CPT authorities.
Leading cement producing company Zuari Cements had won the bid to develop the third cement-handling terminal at the CPT.
The company quoted an amount of `50 crore in the auction to get the third terminal coming up on 2.14 hectares of land near the Q5 berth of Ernakulam Wharf. It also has to pay an annual fee of `66 lakh to the Port Trust.
The proposed terminal will have a handling capacity of 3.6 lakh tonnes annually.
The developer also has to install loading, unloading and bagging machinery.
The first-ever terminal to function at CPT is being operated by Ambuja Cements with a capacity of 3 lakh tonnes per annum while Ultra Tech is in the process of setting up the second, with a capacity of 2 lakh tonnes.
At such terminals, the cement is pumped from the ship to the plant where it will be packed in bags and delivered to markets in Kerala as well as the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, port authorities said.