According to unconfirmed reports, the Indian government has finally denied security clearance to three Chinese firms for operating in the Indian port sector. The denial was accorded on security grounds.

The three companies in question -- Hutchison Port Holdings, Kaidi Electric Co and China Harbour Engineering Co -- had evinced interest in three Indian shipping infrastructure projects with aggregate investment of Rs.6,000 crore.

Hutchsion Port Holdings

• The company, in association with Larsen & Toubro, had bid for the Rs.1,200 crore offshore container terminal of Mumbai Port Trust. On account of the security clearance issue, the last date for submission of bids were extended at least 12 times.

• The company was also amongst bidders for the Rs.500 crore container terminal project of Chennai Port Trust.

Note: Hutchison Ports, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa, was earlier debarred from bidding for the third container terminal project at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.

Kaidi Electric Co. and China Harbour Engineering Co.

• These companies have bid for the Rs.4,300 crore international transhipment container terminal at Vizhinjam, Kerala. These companies have tied up with Mumbai-based Zoom Developers.

Also See:

MbPT offshore terminal project: Deadline extended further (15-May-06)