SURAT, MAY 31: The US-based pipeline major Unocal was withdrawn from the Maroli port project in Gujarat. Unocal, according to its website, "had withdrawn from the project in order to focus its efforts on other projects in the country.''The backing out has been described by the Kinara Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (KBSS) as a 'half victory won.' Meanwhile, officials of NATELCO, the Indian partner in the multi-purpose port, said thay have already begun to look for a new global strategic partner for the proposed port project.Meanwhile, the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) has written to the Mumbai-based office of the Maroli Ports and Harbours Limited, a consortium of private companies, seeking to verify whether the US-based UNOCAL has withdrawn from the Rs 1,600 crore project. Obviously the GMB has not visited Unocal's website.Last Tuesday, the GMB sent a fax message to the consortium office to check on the veracity of newspaper reports claiming that Unocal has dissociated from its partner NATELCO in the multi-crore project. "The newspaper reports say that UNOCAL mailed a press release on its website, but we are yet to receive any intimation from the company or the consortium about this,'' said State Ports Secretary Balwant Singh.He, however, said a few days ago, NATELCO had informally informed the Government that UNOCAL has backed off. "NATELCO now has to look for a new partner for the project and then seek our permission before going ahead with the project,'' Singh said.In another development, sources revealed the State Government is attempting to persuade Reliance Industries to join the proposed project. However, there has not been no official confirmation on this.KBSS leader Suresh Save said, "We are absolutely happy with the development and this is a boost for the agitation,' he said. "We do not want a port here and it does not matter if a multinational or an Indian company is involved,' he said.Maroli Port and Harbor Ltd General Manager (Finance) K. S. Shrinivas said the decision of UNOCAL to back off from the project will have no impact on the progress of the port construction. "We are presently looking for a global strategic partner, who preferably has expertise in port construction and management,'' the NATELCO said.He further said UNOCAL did not show much interest in the entire project and was interested only in the construction of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal. As such, UNOCAL does not have expertise in port construction and basically work in the LNG sector only, Shrinivas said. He categorically said funds will not be a problem and NATELCO is in a position to raise funds for the project and will complete the construction in time.
