THE Malaysian government wants to expand Port of Tanjung Pelepas' (PTP) capacity from 12.5 million to 30 million TEU a year by 2030, reports IHS Media's Dredging and Port Construction.

The Ministry of Transport has given its full support to the proposed expansion of PTP, as it plays a strategic role in the development of the country's maritime sector, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.



'Of course, this proposed expansion is very important and strategic and needs to be implemented immediately,' he told reporters after officiating the Johor Port Authority's Ports Week 2019.



Mr Loke said that he would meet with the Johor Mentri Besar, Sahruddin Jamal, to gain the state's approval on the matter and to ensure PTP's expansion plan is carried out efficiently.



PTP had placed a tender notice in the press April, seeking offers from dredging contractors, to go from 16.4 to 18.5 metres.



Located in Iskandar Puteri in Johor, PTP opened in March 2000 as a competitor to Singapore. Maersk's APM Terminals has a minority stake in PTP's holding company, Seaport Terminal, part of the MMC Group that also owns terminals across Malaysia.



Said Mr Loke: 'If we do nothing within the next three or four years, PTP will reach full capacity. We cannot do any expansion planning when it is full, we have to do it now.'



Said Drewry analyst Neil Davidson: 'The port is already fairly highly utilised, and so in the medium term, more capacity will be needed if it's to grow its volumes. Whether its 30 million TEU capacity by 2030 is all about timing and phasing influenced by trade growth and market shares of the competing hubs.'


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