Adani Gangavaram inks deal with NMDC, Vale

Visakhapatnam: Adani Gangavaram Port Limited (AGPL) has signed a strategic MoU with public sector mining major NMDC and Brazil’s Vale Group to develop a mega iron ore export project at Gangavaram Port.

The MoU envisages the establishment of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and a sharp expansion in the port’s capacity. The current capacity of 64 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) is expected to rise to 75 MTPA. A key feature of the collaboration is the creation of facilities to handle Valemax vessels, the world’s largest Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOCs), with a carrying capacity of up to 400,000 tonnes, supported by fully mechanised berthing and cargo-handling systems.

The initiative is designed to strengthen the iron ore export value chain on India’s East Coast while enhancing efficiency, scale and global competitiveness in mineral processing and trade. Once completed, Gangavaram Port is expected to emerge as a major hub for iron ore exports.

The MoU was signed during the official visit of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, to India, and in the presence of Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, at the India–Brazil Business Forum Summit in New Delhi.

AGPL is a subsidiary of Adani SEZ and Ports Limited (APSEZ), considered the world’s fastest-growing integrated transport utility. Gangavaram Port, which began operations under the PPP model with a majority stake held by the DVS Raju-led consortium, was subsequently acquired by APSEZ as part of its strategy to strengthen its presence on the East Coast.

In a media release, APSEZ said the partners will establish a strategic framework to develop an iron ore blending facility and a dedicated SEZ at Gangavaram. Under the collaboration, the parties will jointly develop, operationalise and manage an integrated SEZ-based ecosystem for blending, value addition and commercialisation of iron ore. The project will include end-to-end yard management, blending operations, and vessel discharge and loading, aimed at improving supply chain efficiency.

“This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building resilient, future-ready infrastructure that strengthens India’s position in global supply chains,” said Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and CEO, APSEZ. He added that Gangavaram Port is poised to become the first port in India capable of handling Valemax vessels.

APSEZ, part of the diversified Adani Group, operates 15 ports and terminals across India’s west, south and east coasts, with a current cargo-handling capacity of 633 million tonnes per annum, about 28 per cent of the country’s total port volumes. The company is targeting one billion tonnes of throughput by 2030.