JSW Infrastructure plans to build a greenfield port in Odisha with a capacity of 52 million tonnes.

To meet the needs of the group firm JSW Steel's proposed 8 million tonnes of pellet plant in the state, JSW Infrastructure is building a greenfield port in Odisha with a 52 million tonnes of cargo handling capacity. 

In roughly three years, the port should also be operational and the pellet mill will be going online. Arun Maheshwari, joint MD and CEO of JSW Infrastructure, said to businessline that internal accruals and debt would be used to fund the project's capital needs. The company currently makes around Rs 1300–1400 crore annually, but if its operations expand, that figure could increase.

On September 25, JSW Infrastructure will launch its initial public offering with a price range of 113-119, making it the third company in the group to list after flagship JSW Steel and JSW Energy. 1200 crore of the 2800 crore it is raising would go toward capital expenditures. This includes the Jaigarh Port and the Mangalore Container Terminal being expanded. Its ability to handle goods at this time is just over 158 million tonnes. 

The port portfolio of the corporation comprises of two ports and seven terminals. It runs two new ports—Jaigarh and Dharamtar—while the government, which is privatizing ports and terminals nationwide, has granted it concessions for the remaining facilities. 

According to the location, the type of cargo handled, growth potential, and a variety of other related factors, the government is entitled to royalties under port concession agreements that range from 18 to 56% (for terminals that are currently operated by it). The corporation is now competing for another three port concessions. 

Maheshwari stated that the business was also examining the purchase of two ports, one on the east coast and one on the west. He refused to provide further specifics, stating that the talks were still ongoing. 

Coal and iron ore make up more than 80% of the cargo that the company handles. Maheswari emphasized that coal, crude oil, and containers made up the bulk of the world's shipping commerce. Until other fuels become more widely used economically, he predicted that coal would be a primary driver of India's energy growth for at least the next three decades. There is currently no workable alternative. Coal and iron ore provided the necessary volumes for a port operator. "If you need to move volumes, then you need to have these kinds of products," he continued. 

Although the corporation is increasing its capacity for LPG, LNG, container cargo, and urea, these products still only make up a small portion of the total cargo share.