Orissa blocks its ore export from two Andhra ports

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Orissa has continued to stop its iron ore exports from two ports in Andhra Pradesh on concerns over their mechanism to check illegal shipments, an official said yesterday. The state stopped issuing permits for ore exports through the Gangavaram and Kakinada ports early last month after they failed to provide their operational details.

"Gangavaram has in the meanwhile given us the required information and we are examining that. But Kakinada has not responded," state Steel and Mines Secretary Manoj Ahuja said.
Iron ore mined in the state is exported from ports in many states, including Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Orissa has initiated several steps to check illegal mining and export of iron ore from the state after some politicians alleged in July 2009 that some mines were operating without licences.
Source: IANS

India's iron ore exports plunge in Jan-Nov period

Fri, December16, 2011

Iron ore exports from the country have plunged sharply so far this year.In the first 11 months of 2011, export volumes totalled an estimated 80 million tonnes. This represents a year-on-year fall of as much as 22 million tonnes.

First it was Karnataka from where iron ore exports were prohibited; but subsequently the ban was lifted. It is now Orissa's turn. In November, preliminary export data suggest shipment of 5.1 million tonnes, down more than a third year on year. A major reason for decline in export volume is said to be Orissa. The State Government has stopped issuing iron ore export permits for cargoes shipped via two ports in Andhra Pradesh, namely Gangavaram and Kakinada.
Non-submission data is said to be the reason for the embargo.

Orissa ban
While Paradip port accounted for about 14 million tonnes shipment so far this year, the two ports in Andhra Pradesh handled 4 million tonnes. The Orissa Government has already enforced a ban on transport by trucks and has reportedly not been issuing export permits for the past 2-3 weeks, according to industry insiders.

The State Government is under pressure in the wake of investigation following allegations of illegal mining in Orissa. India's peak export of iron ore was during fiscal 2009-10 with estimated shipments aggregating 117 million tonnes which declined to 97 million tonnes in fiscal 2010-11.
Interestingly, it was only earlier this month, the OECD Steel Committee (of which India is a part) talked about rising concerns over availability of raw material (notably, iron ore) supply to meet the global demand of the steel industry. A related workshop emphasised the growing role of China and India, in addition to other emerging economies, in global demand for raw materials such as iron ore.

Export curbs

On the policy side, the workshop noted that export curbs applied to minerals and metal products have become more frequent, causing concern in countries that rely on imports of raw materials for steelmaking. At the same time, it is absolutely essential that finite raw material sources like iron ore are conserved in the country for future requirement.But the real issue at hand is not domestic availability for the future, but suspicion of ongoing illegal mining for the lucrative export market.

(sourced Business Line)

Orissa stops iron ore exports permits to 2 ports

Monday, Dec12, 2011

BHUBANESWAR (Reuters) - Orissa has stopped issuing iron ore export permits for cargoes shipped via two ports in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa mines minister told Reuters.

"The Gangavaram and Kakinada ports did not cooperate" with the state mines and steel department's queries on the volume of the ore exported through these ports and the mechanism they followed to prevent illegal exports, minister Raghunath Mohanty said.

The state government had sought such details from all the ports that exported iron ore from the state.

"We will not issue the permits until they (the port authorities) submit details and tell us what system they have," a senior official of the steel and mines department, who did not want to be named, told Reuters.

On the total export of 35 million tonnes iron ore from the country, 2 million tonnes were shipped through these ports in the first seven months of the current fiscal year ending March, data from the Federation of Indian Minerals and Industry, a trade body, showed.

(sourced Reuters)

Orissa to serve ultimatum to ports for information on ore exports

Sat, Oct22,2011

BS reported that the Orissa government will soon serve an ultimatum to the authorities of five ports Haldia, Vishakhapatnam, Kakinada, Gangavaram and Dhamara for sharing of information on export of minerals generating from the state through their ports.

The state will reiterate its stand on information sharing in case of ore exports with the authorities of these five ports at a high level meeting to be held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Mr BK Patnaik on October 25.

Mr Patnaik said "We have invited the authorities of the five ports for a meeting scheduled for October 25. Earlier, we had asked these ports to share information on ore exports.”

Mr Manoj Ahuja the state steel & mines secretary had recently written to these port authorities, calling for submission of information related to ore exports to the state director of mines at least once every fort night for verification of the data with the transit permits issued by the mining offices of the state.

Mr Ahuja had pointed out that the decision to share information on ore exports by the ports was taken by the Government of India in 2010 to streamline the movement of consignments by rail and road.

It may be noted that the Union Ministry of Shipping in 2010 had asked all major port trusts of India to adopt measures in line with the measures adopted by Paradip Port Trust to check illegal export of iron ore.

(sourced Business Standard)

Gangavaram port, An Indian modern port creates record

March03, 2011

Gangavaram Port, the deepest and the most modern port in India creates yet another record by discharging 65349 MT Coking Coal in 24 hours.

Gangavaram Port, the deepest and the most modern port in India, has created yet another milestone record by discharging 65349 MT Coking Coal in 24 hours from Panamax Vessel “MV WELSUCCESS” , according to an E-Mail received received by COALspot.com from Konnections on behalf of Gangavaram Port.

This vessel was handled at the Port on account of Rashtryia Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL). This discharge rate achieved is more than three times the discharge rate achieved at any other Indian Port.

The e-Mail furhter said, Gangavaram Port, in the past, has achieved numerous such operational milestones and has today redefined the economics of bulk cargo handling at Indian Ports. With 5 deep draft berths, GPL has handled more than 28 Million MT cargo since commencement of operations. The port has successfully handled more than 600 vessels including more than 45 fully laden capsize vessels of average size of 150,000 DWT. The vessels handled at GPL include the largest bulk vessels to have ever called at any Indian Port. The port ensures almost nil pre-berthing delay ensuring congestion free and efficient port operations. The Port handles a range of commodities such as Coking and Non-Coking Coal, Iron Ore, Limestone, Bauxite, Steel Cargo, Raw Sugar, Project Cargo, Slag and Scrap.

Gangavaram Port with its deep draft berth and the latest state of the art mechanized cargo handling systems has redefined port operational standards in India resulting in substantial and unprecedented benefits to the importers/exporters on account of savings due to reduced ocean freight and efficient cargo handling services.

About Gangavaram Port:
Gangavaram Port is the most modern and the deepest port in India located at Visakhapatnam, the industrial nerve center of Andhra Pradesh Please visit www.gangavaram.com

(sourced:coalspot)

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