Ennore is situated on the Coromandal Coast about 24km north of Chennai Port along the coastline, in the State of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the 12th Major Port in India and the first Corporatised Major Port in India.

Ennore Port was originally conceived as a satellite port to the Chennai Port, primarily to handle thermal coal to meet the requirement of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB). The scope was expanded taking into account subsequent developments such as the plan of Government of Tamil Nadu to set up. The pollution and environmental hazards caused while handling iron ore and coal in the Chennai harbour and nearby habitations also necessitated shifting these cargo items from the Chennai Port.

This was the rationale behind planning of berths for coal berth (for users other than TNEB) Iron ore, LNG, POL, Chemical and other liquids and Crude to serve various industries that would come up on the proposed Perto Chem Park. These factors have contributed to the evolution of Ennore Port as a multi-functional energy port of the New Millennium.

The Phase I development of Ennore Port has been completed. The port was inaugurated and dedicated to the Nation by the Honorable Prime Minister of India on 1.2.2001. Commercial operations commenced with Handymax geared vessels for unloading of thermal coal on 22.6.2001. With the deployment of self-unloading and gearless vessels of 65000/77000 DWT, full-fledged operations were started since December 2002.

The Background
There are more than 2,000 seaports active throughout the world to cater to the requirements of sea borne cargo to the volume of around 5.3 billion tonnes. With the growing move for privatisation of the seaports all over the world subsequent to reforms, private sector participation in operations and infrastructure activities of seaports has increased substantially over the last few years. This has resulted in a radical change in the organisational model of ports, converting from Service Port model to Landlord Port model, where port authority retains the port infra-structure and regulatory functions, whereas the port services are provided by private operators.

Ennore Port was originally conceived as a satellite port to the Chennai Port, primarily to handle thermal coal to meet the requirement of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB). The scope was expanded taking into account subsequent developments such as the plan of Government of Tamil Nadu to set up.

The concept
A review of the top 100 container ports of the world during 1997 showed that 88 out of 100 ports conform to the Landlord Port model. In this model.

The port authority constitutes a landlord, which manages the basic port assets by letting land and infrastructure to port operators.

EPL as a landlord port would create and retain the basic infrastructure and carryout its regulatory function. Development, operations & management of cargo terminals to handle dry/liquid bulk cargo and would be concessioned to private sector participants on BOT basics. Private operators would be required to construct the berth, install topside facilities and storage facilities at their cost and operate the facility.

Scope for Private Participation / Outstanding
EPL would provide scope for private participation in areas such as:

Port Expansion On-Going Projects:

Terminal	Iron ore Terminal
Capacity	12.0 MTPA
Cost Estimate	Rs. 480 Crores
Alongside Depth	15m BCD (Phase-I) 18m (Phase-II)
Quay Length	525m
Development & Operation	M/s SICAL Iron ore Terminals Ltd (Consortium of SICAL Logistics Ltd and L&T IDP Ltd)

Terminal	Coal Terminal
Capacity	8.0 MTPA
Cost Estimate	Rs. 399.13 Crores
Alongside Depth	15m BCD
Jetty Length	325m
Development & Operation	M/s Chettinad International Coal Terminal(P)Ltd (Consortium of SICL, Portia Management Services Ltd and Navayuga Engineering Ltd)

Terminal	General Cargo Berth
Capacity	0.5 MTPA + 200000 Cars PA
Cost Estimate	Rs. 50.56 Crores
Alongside Depth	12m BCD
Quay Length	250m
Development & Operation	M/s Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd

Port Expansion Future Projects:

Terminal	Container Terminal (Phase -I)
Capacity	18.0 MTPA (1.5 million TEUs)
Cost Estimate	Rs. 1300 Crores (Approx.)
Alongside Depth	15m BCD
Quay Length	1000m
Development & Operation	Private Sector Participation on BOT basis. Selection process to be initiated

Terminal	LNG Terminal
Capacity	5 MTPA
Cost Estimate	Rs. 2700 Crores (Approx.) (including regasification plant)
Alongside Depth	15m BCD
Jetty Length	300m
Development & Operation	M/s Indian Oil Corporation Ltd on BOT basis