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Kuantan Port Consortium Sdn
Bhd has a massive expansion plan to support the
development of the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).
Managing director Wong Soon Fah said there are
plans to transform Kuantan Port into a mega
port.
“Kuantan Port plans to embark on a massive
expansion that includes a new container berth
with a total length of 4km with 18m draft as
well as a 120 hectares container yard in the
first and second phase of development,” he told
StarBiz.
“The third phase of expansion will include
berths for bulk cargo, depending on market
needs”.
With the expansion, Wong said, Kuantan Port
would be able to bring in main line operators
and large vessels to support the needs of users
sited in the planned free zone, palm oil
industry cluster, logistics activities centre,
petrochemical hub, and the plastics hub in
Kertih.
Wong said Kuantan Port would benefit from higher
cargo throughput and revenue with additional
activities under the ECER project.
“Due to higher volume of cargo and vessels
calling at Kuantan Port, the freight rates and
the connectivity to a greater number of
destinations will help to induce industries to
locate in the east coast which in turn would
facilitate development of the port in the
future.
“This is because Kuantan Port is not only to
serve Pahang but the whole of the east coast
including Terengganu and Kelantan,” he said.
Wong added that the port would become a hub for
oil and gas, agriculture development, a centre
for educational excellence and human capital
development.
On its facility, Wong said, Kuantan Port could
accommodate up to 30 million tonnes of cargo per
annum.
“Last year the port handled 10.6 million tonnes
of cargo, thus there is room for expansion,” he
said.
In terms of performance, he said Kuantan Port
has not anticipated much growth this year as
compared with last year.
“This is because there has been a slowdown in
the steel pipe industry.
“In terms of container handling, we are
expecting only a slight growth to 131,000 TEUs
this year from 125,000 TEUs in 2006.
“This should pick up when the two biodiesel
plants are commissioned and a large investor,
Lynas starts production,” said Wong.
Presently, the port's core business is handling
conventional cargo.
Last year, liquid bulk topped total cargo
throughput at 10.6 million tonnes with a 35%
share followed by break bulk cargo with 32%, dry
bulk cargo 17% and containers 16%. .
On challenges, the wholly owned company of IJM
Corp Bhd saw marketing and getting new investors
as its main priority.
Wong said the port needed new investors to
provide it with a quantum leap to boost its
cargo and shipping business.
“Once Kuantan Port is developed into a mega
port, we will need to fill it up with users.
“The marketing of the port is important and work
is on the way to get major players in shipping
and oil companies to be in Kuantan as we will
then have the capability to handle the large
ships,” he said.
Wong added that increasing operating cost was a
major concern as oil was almost US$100 per
barrel.
“We need the government to consider increasing
the tariff which has been stagnant since Kuantan
Port’s inception in 1980.
“A review would be timely and the infrastructure
required for development of the mega port such
as the breakwater, land reclamation and capital
dredging has to be financed by the government.
“The berths, equipment and software will be
borne by the terminal operator,” said Wong.
As an example, the port has limited draught of
11.2m that restricted its capability to handle
large ships above 35,000 dead weight tonnes.
“We want Kuantan Port to be free from these
restrictions. This is where assistance from the
government is much needed,” he said. |
