KUCHING: The new Samalaju Industrial Port, developed at a cost of RM1.8 billion, is expected to commence operation in June this year.
Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd (BPHB) Finance and Investment committee chairman Datuk Nasarudin Md Idris said the tariffs had been decided following a discussion with the state government.
“This is a new port, it is part and parcel of Samalaju Industrial Park, which is part and parcel of the development of SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy).
“We have discussed with the state government the tariffs because we need to look at how much we charge and how we call attract new investors to it,” he said at a press conference after BPHB’s 21st annual general meeting at Hilton Hotel here yesterday.
Nasarudin said the tariffs decided for the new port would vary from one user to another, depending on the volume and throughput.
“If you’re a bigger throughput user of the port, the tariffs are cheaper.”
Earlier, group chief executive officer of BPHB Dato Mohammad Medan Abdullah said the Samalaju Industrial Port aimed to handle over two million tonnes of bulk cargo with a total of 145 vessel calls when it came into operation in June.
“The port’s cargo throughout is projected to steadily increase from 450,019 tonnes in 2016 to over 11 million tonnes in 2019 when all the industries achieve maximum throughput.
“The port will continue to improve operational efficiency to maintain its competitive edge.”
On Bintulu Port Sdn Bhd (BPSB), Medan said all major cargo categories at this port recorded increases last year over the preceding year’s figures despite a challenging market environment.
“The overall cargo throughput handled by the group increased by 3.7 per cent from 44.81 million tonnes in 2015 to 46.45 million tonnes last year.”
He added that BPSB will continue to focus on other key growth sectors and enhance its efficiency in the handling of specific cargoes that would serve as potential income generators particularly palm oil, container, fertiliser, woodchips, palm kernel product and biomass.
He pointed out that Biport Bulkers Sdn Bhd (BBSB) registered a record throughput last year, its best performance to date.
“BBSB’s final throughput for the year 2016 was 3.65 million tonnes, the highest achievement since it commenced operations in 2004 and marginally better than the 2015 results.
“BBSB’s major customers are Wilmar which is a leading global palm oil group, and also Sarawak’s main palm oil companies namely Sime Darby, Sarawak Oil Palms and Kirana.
“They operate and use the facilities for the export of their crude and refined products. Last year, 95 per cent of palm oil products were handled via Biport Bulkers,” added Medan.
Among those present were chairman of BPHB and chief secretary to Malaysian government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa and board of directors of BPHB including Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani who is also the State Secretary.
Source: THE BORNEO POST