The Karnataka Maritime Board has issued a Letter of Award (LOA) to JSW Infrastructure for the development of a commercial port at Keni in Karnataka, India.

The projected cost of the project stands at INR41.2 billion (USD494 million), featuring an initial capacity of 30 MTPA. Positioned as an all-weather, greenfield, multi-cargo, direct berthing, deep-water commercial port, it is designed to accommodate various types of cargo on the west coast in the north Karnataka region. This strategic placement aims to cater to industries in the surrounding areas, including Ballary, Hosapete, Hubballi, Kalaburagi, and south Maharashtra. Initially, the port's capacity is slated to be 30 million metric tons per annum (MTPA), with significant potential for substantial expansion in the long term.

The proposed Keni port is strategically located between two operational major ports—Mormugao Port in the north and New Mangalore Port in the south. The port's hinterland primarily deals with coal and coke cargo, serving steel, cement, and power plants. Additionally, it is reinforced by the handling of iron ore, limestone, dolomite, and the export of finished steel products. Upon assessing future demand and comparing it with the capacity of existing ports, there is a discernible need for a deep-draft port to bridge the anticipated cargo handling gap in the future.