India to import Russian coking coal via Iran's Chabahar port

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will establish India’s presence on a strategic route considered to be the main gateway for shipments from the Indian subcontinent to Europe. “The use of the International North-South Corridor (INSTC) and the Chabahar port would be quite beneficial, and coking coal is among the key mineral resources along with few others from central Asia being looked at for sourcing by India via this route," one of the persons cited above said on condition of anonymity. The INSTC is a 7,200-km network of ship, rail, and road routes being developed to move freight between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.

Apart from Russia, Chabahar port is also being considered as a gateway to trade with resource rich Central Asian republics, for which plans for separate railway connections with Chabahar port are being worked out. “Both Bandar Abbas (also in Iran) and Chabahar ports would be beneficial as using that route through the INSTC reduces the time of the voyage by 40% and freight by one-third," said Ajay Sahai, director general and CEO of Federation of Indian Export Organisations. “Further, at a time when the Red Sea route is still in a crisis situation, the Chabahar port would be a better option." Bandar Abbas is Iran’s main port, but is congested.

It lies about 650 km west of Chabahar in the Persian Gulf region and is a port of call for INSTC. Queries sent to the ministry of port, shipping and waterways remained unanswered till press time. Located in the Sistan-Baluchistan province on Iran’s southeastern coast, Chabahar Port can be easily accessed from India’s west coast.