A detailed feasibility study is currently underway to build the multi-user liquid terminal that would include bunker storage facilities for international shipping.

”The port will look to lease out the bunker tank farms to licensed operators and prepare detailed construction work for the terminal to berth a suezmax,” official from Cochin Port Trust said.

The capacity set aside to store bunker products has not been finalised yet, he added.

The multi-user liquid terminal would cost $30.6 million (1.5 billion rupees) to build and is expected to be completed in 2011.

Prospects for the bunker terminal have been boosted by the Kerala state government’s decision to give tax exemption on fuel sold to international ships, the port official said.