Payra port operations slow down for halt in coal imports

Operations at Payra port have slowed down significantly following the temporary stoppage of coal imports for the Payra Thermal Power Plant in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali.

The 1,320-megawatt coal-fired power station was shut down on June 6 because of its inability to pay previous dues for coal amid the ongoing US dollar shortage.

And although a ship loaded with coal is scheduled to arrive from Indonesia on June 25, the Payra Port Authority (PPA) has lost revenue to the tune of at least Tk 25 crore due to the non-arrival of vessels for almost 20 days.

The thermal power plant requires an average of about 13,000 tonnes of coal every day, according to PPA sources.

As such, some 2.60 lakh tonnes of coal were required from June 6 to June 25, with about seven ships being needed to transport this amount of the fuel.

So, the PPA would have received at least Tk 25 crore in revenue had these ships been cleared through the port, they said.

At the moment, Payra Port has no major client other than the thermal power plant and so, there has been a slowdown in operations amid the closure of the plant

At the moment, Payra Port has no major client other than the thermal power plant and so, there has been a slowdown in operations amid the closure.

Since June 6, just two ships loaded with stone arrived at the port, earning it revenue of about Tk 54 crore, the source added.

Shah Abdul Mawla, project manager of the Payra 1,320MW Thermal Power Plant, said six ships have already left with coal from Indonesia and the first is expected to arrive at the station's jetty on June 25 with some 37,000 tonnes of the fuel.

He also said ships with a carrying capacity of between 37,000 and 45,000 tonnes will now regularly bring coal for the power station, subject to the clearance of prior dues.

Azizur Rahman, deputy director (traffic) of the PPA, said coal imported from Indonesia for the thermal power plant directly anchor at the station's jetty.

At present, mainly imported coal, stone and raw materials for cement are brought through Payra port.

But when the construction of the first terminal is complete, various products will also be exported from the country's third seaport, he added.

Rear Admiral Golam Sadek, chairman of the PPA, said they are continuously negotiating with various organisations for importing or exporting various goods, including fertiliser and cars, through the port.

Once the construction work of the first terminal is complete, mother vessels will be able to directly anchor at the jetty, facilitating the transport of goods to different parts of the country by road.

Sadek also said they hope the construction of the first terminal will be complete by the end of this year and goods brought through the port will be transported through the ferry service in Andhra Manik river.

He also said the construction of a bridge over the Andhra Manik river is underway.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unveiled the plaque of Payra port on November 19, 2013. And on August 13, 2016, she also inaugurated the port's formal product release programme of the port.

Currently, infrastructure development works for the first terminal, yard and connecting roads are ongoing, he added.