Goa MPT to reduce Japan offtake

ENS ECONOMIC BUREAU PANAJI, April 29: Goa’s Murmagao Port Trust (MPT) is gradually reducing its dependence on Japan for the off-take of iron ore from its premises, port trust chairperson Jose Paul told the media on Monday. Addressing the organisation’s annual press conference, Paul said Japan accounted for 51 per cent of iron ore exports from Murmagao port in 1993-94. Though this was a slight dip over previous years it has to be reduced further, he said.

“We need two or three more players who import more ore through the MPT so that dependence on Japan is reduced,” Paul pointed out. Japan tries to browbeat the MPT into not raisng port levies, he said. The port trust is now looking at China and South Korea as alternative destinations for Goa’s iron ore.Paul said though vessels from China are smaller and require additional servicing, they are given concessions so that they emerge as a counter-balance to Japan.He also said the MPT has achieved shorter pre-berthing and turnaround times for ships using itsfacilities this year. The average pre-berthing waiting time has fallen to 1.87 days compared to 2.07 days in the past. Attempts are being made to reduce it to one day in the near future, he added.

MPT officials claim the port’s pre-berthing and average turnround timings are better than several larger ports in the country.

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MPT officials say, the port, which is responsible for a large chunk of iron ore exports from India, has recorded an all-time high in the export of this commodity. Exports rose to 18.78 million tonnes in 1997-98 against the previous best of 15.74 million tonnes in 1993-94.

Paul also felt the returns on capital invested by MPT was on the lower side. “The total capital employed till the end of the financial year 1997-98 is around Rs 237 crore against Rs 230.7 crore last year. The return on capital works out to 13.74 per cent for the current year against 10.11 per cent in end 1996-97.