The bidding for the construction of Laldia multi-purpose terminal in Chattogram will take place by this month, officials said.
To this end, the Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) has recently prepared the request for proposal (RFP).
Once the bidding is completed, the design of the terminal, having jetties for both bulk and containers, will be done.
Five global port operators have been shortlisted from those who submitted request for qualification (RFQ), PPPA director Abul Bashar told the FE.
They are Global Ports Services Ltd (Singapore), Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (India), China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd, Bolloré SA (France) and DP World FZE (UAE).
Two months ago, a conference of bidders was held to get views of the companies on the terms and conditions on the operation of the terminal.
Opinion was also sought on the extent of productivity of the terminal and the royalty sharing of the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA).
Replying to a query, Mr Bashar said the cost of building of the terminal will depend on its design and the quality of equipment to be installed.
He, however, estimated the cost at around $500 million.
The builder of the terminal will operate for 25 years before handing it over to the CPA.
In June 2017, the CPA invited RFQ with intent to build a two-and-a-half-kilometre terminal on the north bank of the Karnaphuli river.
The terminal will have four jetties, two for container vessels and two for bulk cargo carriers.
The prime Chattogram seaport handles over 92 per cent of the total seaborne trade of the country in bulk and containerised forms.
The port is seeing over 10 per cent growth annually in the last couple of years, but its capacity has not been increased proportionately.
However, the CPA has taken multiple projects to construct Bay Terminal, Laldia Multi-purpose Terminal, Patenga Container Terminal and Karnaphuli Container Terminal.
It has already collected equipment like rubber-tyred gantry cranes, high-straddle carriers, reach stackers, forklifts and container movers.
Six key gantry cranes will reach the Chattogram port this September and four more by next April.
The equipment will raise the handling capacity of the port significantly, officials said.
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