Adani Group keen to invest in Chittagong Port’s Bay Terminal.

The country’s largest private port operator Adani Group is eyeing investments in Bangladesh ports through public-private partnership, according to senior executives of the group.

It is exploring possibilities to invest in Chittagong Port’s Bay Terminal, a deep terminal proposed to be developed near the port. Asian Development Bank is considering funding the terminal, which is expected to handle coal. The terminal is also a top priority in the Bangladesh government’s infrastructure roadmap.

Bangladesh is expanding its congested Chittagong Port. It has invited private investments through public-private partnership to develop the port infrastructure. On Thursday , an Adani Group executive expressed interest in making an investment in the concerned terminal before a visiting Bangladesh shipping and trade delegation. The delegation was here for Secretary-level talks between India and Bangladesh.

However, questions sent to the company remained unanswered.

Adani Group’s port arm — APSEZ — has invested in several terminals along the East coast, including Dhamra, Ennore and Kattupalli. It has investments in ports, power, energy and real estate and is also present in Haldia, West Bengal. In addition, it has an edible oil refining facility through Adani Wilmar. Incidentally, APSEZ is also coming up with an LNG import terminal at Dhamra port in Odisha, for which it has signed a long-term agreement with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).

The proposed LNG terminal will play a strategic role in supplying gas to Bangladesh and Myanmar, Karan Adani, CEO, Adani Port SEZ, had earlier said. According to the contract, IOC has booked 3 million tonne per annum (MTPA) re-gasification capacity spread over 20 years. IOC plans to supply gas to its refineries at Paradip in Odisha and Haldia in West Bengal.

HBL