MALAYSIA’S two largest ports will have to boost their container capacity in line with trade growth, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong yesterday.
Port Klang is expected to increase its capacity by 60% to 32 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually by 2040.
While the second-largest port, Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) would have its current capacity increased by 3.5 million TEUs by 2025.
“In 2020, global volumes fell less dramatically than expected and the industry was seeing a rebound by the end of the same year.
“Port Klang, for example, recorded a smaller than anticipated decline of 2.5% in container throughput to 13.2 million TEUs but in 2021, volume rebounded by 3.6% to a record 13.7 million TEUs, being the best performance to date since container operations began in 1973,” he said in his keynote address at the 19th Asean Ports and Shipping
Exhibition and Conference 2022 yesterday. He added that the PTP in Johor recorded 14% increase in volume to achieve a record throughput of 11.2 million TEUs last year.
He also commented on decarbonisation in shipping and ports.
Maritime transport emits about 940 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year or 2.5% of global greenhouse emissions.
“The Malaysian government has taken cognisance of the risks of climate change and has introduced many green initiatives for the various sectors of the economy, including the maritime sector.
“Malaysia as a Flag State, Port State and Coastal State have ratified 26 of the 58 International Maritime Organisation’s conventions to ensure safe and secure shipping with protection of the marine environment being a major priority,” he added.
Wee mentioned that Malaysia has also participated with the international Maritime Organisation’s Green Voyage 2050 project which helps developing countries meet their commitments in achieving climate change and energy efficient goals.
This is by radically changing shipping operations and ship engine design which this move is in line with the 12th Malaysia Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 45% of the GDP by 2030.
Source: The Malaysian Reserve