Panaji, Sep 22 - Goa's Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) has entered into a partnership agreement with Adani Mormugao Port Terminal to develop a mechanised coal handling berth in the port premises, a top official said here Tuesday.

As per the deal, Adani Mormugao, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) floated by a consortium of Adani Enterprises and Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone, will invest around Rs.250 crore in the project and operate it for 30 years, MPT chairman Pravin Agarwal told reporters.

'It is a 30-year concession. We are presently handling imports of 5.5 million tonnes of coal annually. Once the mechanised berth is ready, we will be able to double the capacity,' Agarwal said.

As per the concession agreement, MPT will get 20 percent of the revenue earned by the private partner, he added.

'Once fully operational, MPT expects to earn about Rs.40 crore as our share of revenue from coal imports handled by our private partner.'

The agreement would help the port facilitate ready coal supply to mega thermal plants coming up along the western coast, especially the one in Kudagi, near Bijapur in Karnataka and another plant in the Sindhudurg region of Maharashtra.