PTP To Invest RM8.6b On Latest Expansion Over 5-15 Years

Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), Malaysia’s biggest single port operator, aims to invest more than RM8.6 billion under its latest plan to further improve the port’s capacity over the next five to 15 years.

The expansion plan was unveiled during Johor Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin’s working visit and a Tijarah Ramadhan function at the port.

“PTP’s latest expansion plan reflects the highest level of confidence by the port operator to position itself as the preferred port of choice in the region”, said Mohamed Khaled during the event. PTP is a joint venture between utilities and infrastructure group MMC Corp Bhd (70%) and APM Terminals (30%), a leading global ports group with a global port network in 62 countries. The port, situated on the eastern side of the mouth of Pulai River in southwest Johor, is a naturally sheltered deep water port and is near the Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing.

PTP chairman Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh said the immediate plan is to embark on a comprehensive upgrading and refurbishment of its quay cranes and rubber tyre gantries. PTP will also replace its existing equipment to increase the handling capacity from the current 10.5 million twenty-footer equivalent units (TEUs) to 13.2 million TEUs annually. This will be followed by the development of Phase 3, which is expected to take place in 2018. Phase 3A and 3B, which consist of six news berths of 3km length, will enable us to increase our handling capacity to 22.2 million TEUs before 2030, he said.

The expansion will also provide more job opportunities, adding to the current 13,000 employees already on board. Johor has experienced tremendous economic and development transformation, rising up to be one fastest growing economies in the region, with PTP serving as the international gateway for the region, especially for Iskandar Malaysia.

After visiting 14 berths in both terminals, Mohamed Khaled attended a breaking fast function with the Gelang Patah community hosted by PTP and Joho Port Authority.

They presented some RM30,000 worth of financial and essential aid to 150 underprivileged individuals, including single mothers and orphans, and five mosque around the Gelang Patah area.