PTP lines up RM 5b expansion plan

PTP presently can accommodate 10.5m TEUs of containers and the port is nearing its full capacity, says Muhammad Razif

Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) will embark on a RM5 billion expansion plan over the next three years to cater to the expected increase in vessels and container volumes.

Lembaga Pelabuhan Johor (LPJ) GM Muhammad Razif Ahmad said the expansion plan is in line with the state’s economic vision of making Johor a dynamic maritime region.

“With the three-year expansion plan, PTP will be able to increase its container handling capacity to 15 million TEUs (20-ft equivalent units) by 2018,” he said after the launch of LPJ Port Week 2015 in Johor yesterday.

Muhammad Razif said PTP presently can accommodate 10.5 million TEUs of containers and the port is nearing its full capacity.

He said under the expansion plan, PTP will add three additional berths by 2018 from the present 14 berths.

PTP will also embark on dredging and reclamation works to accommodate the expansion.

Last month, it was reported that the port operator Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, which is a 70%- owned subsidiary of MMC Corp Bhd, is on track to achieve its total container volume target of 9.2 million TEUs by year-end.

The announcement came after PTP registered a record 800,000 TEUs in August.

Based on the port’s 8.9% growth in the first eight months of this year, PTP was estimated to record approximately six million TEUs for the first eightmonth of the year.

Meanwhile, LPJ Port Week 2015, organised by LPJ with Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd and Johor Port Bhd, aims to introduce and promote ports in Johor to the public.

It is also meant to educate the public and consumers on the facilities and services offered at the ports. In conjunction with the event, LPJ and its partners also organised the Green Port Conference 2015, which was launched yesterday.

The two-day event intends to increase awareness and knowledge about green technology and its practices at ports in Malaysia.

This is also in line with the government’s commitment to reduce the country’s carbon emissions per gross development value to 40% by 2020.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Razif hopes the government will provide tax incentives for green initiatives in the upcoming Budget 2016 to boost the implementation of such technology for ports in Malaysia.

“The green initiatives will also aid ports to reduce their operation costs,” he said. For instance, Muhammad Razif said if ports could change its diesel-powered rubber tyre gantry (RTG) to electrified RTG, it would reduce their operating costs.