Mangalore, Dec 30: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas M Veerappa Moily inaugurated the newly-built Berth No 13, petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) berth at the oil dock arm at New Mangalore Port here on Sunday, in the presence of State Forest and Environment Minister B Ramanath Rai.
Built at an estimated cost of Rs 79.17 crores, the berth is 350 metres long and has the capacity of handling cargo to the tune of 7.8 million tonnes per annum.
Mr Moily also laid the foundation stone for the construction of Berth No 18 which will handle bulk cargo and containers upto the capacity of 5.8 million tonnes after completion.
The commissioning of both the berths will add a capacity of 13.4 million tonnes to the existing capacity of 76.77 million tonnes at the port, said chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) P Tamilvanan, speaking at a formal programme in the premises of the port.
He also announced the plan to set up a business development park as part of New Mangalore Port at the estimated cost of Rs 20 crore in the near future.
Speaking at the programme, Mr Moily appealed to the trustees of the port to march forward to attain the status of emerging as the topmost port in the country. The country has the potential and wealth to become energy-independent by the year 2030, he said.
Director of Ministry of Shipping Tarun Kumar Jajoria, Mangalore South MLA J R Lobo, NMPT deputy chairman T S N Murthy, DK Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim and others were present.
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