Indian port builder JSW Infrastructure has signed an agreement with the government of Karnataka in southwestern India to build a deep-water port worth $480 million.

JSW will develop Keni Port into a public-private partnership. This deep-water facility will handle up to 30 million tons of cargo annually, including exports from the northern region of Karnataka. If needed, this production capacity will increase to 56 million tons.

According to the Karnataka Maritime Vision Plan, the current hinterland potential of the state is 44 million tons, but it is expected to increase to 117 million tons by 2035.

Most of the transportation at this port will be coal and coke from the region's steel, cement, and power plants. It will also process iron ore and limestone, and export finished steel products. The depth of the port will be sufficient to accommodate Cape of Good Hope vessels, which are classified as too large to pass through the Panama Canal.

JSW Infrastructure is part of the $23 billion JSW Group, owned by billionaire industrialist Sajjan Jindal. In terms of cargo handling capacity, it describes itself as the second largest commercial port operator in India. Currently, this figure is 153 million tons per year.Editor/XingWentao