New tariffs for Bintulu Port expected early next year, says minister

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Loke (front, sixth left) in a photo-call with BPA officers and staff during his working visit.

BINTULU: The new tariffs for Bintulu Port would be implemented by early next year to enable it to be more competitive, federal Transport Minister Anthony Loke said.

He said his ministry was in the final stage of the tariff revision and would announce it soon.

Loke said the tariff revision was important to ensure that Bintulu Port would continue to become an important liquefied natural gas (LNG) port in the country, and would be the catalyst for the port’s growth and industrial development in Sarawak.

“The details about the new tariffs will be announced later; the decision will be made soon.

“The authority (Bintulu Port Authority) will announce the details after they are approved by me, and expected to be implemented by early next year,” he said during a press conference at Bintulu Port Authority (BPA).

According to Loke, the new port tariffs was among the issues discussed during his meeting with BPA board members following his first official working visit to the port in Tanjung Kidurong yesterday.

On another issue, the minister said BPA would be appointing a consultant to look into the development masterplan of Bintulu Port for the next 30 years.

He said BPA, as the port’s regulator, was in the process of planning and drafting its short, medium and long-term masterplan under the Bintulu Port Development Masterplan (2020-2050) to ensure that the port would remain competitive.

“Among the new initiatives and approaches to be implemented are the Blueprint of Smart Digital Green Port and utilising the new system and technology like blockchain.

“The government believes the port can remain not only as one of the largest exporters of LNG to the world market, but that is also has huge potential to be developed as a LNG bunkering service hub in line with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for the use of fuel less than 0.5 per cent sulphur by 2020.”

Meanwhile, Loke when asked reiterated that Bintulu Port belonged to the federal government as it was established on an act of Parliament.

“Bintulu Port is a federal port. There is no such thing of Sarawak taking back the port – it is a federal port. As far as we are concerned, we will continue to operate the port as a federal port,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing, who holds the Infrastructure and Ports Development portfolio, had previously stated that the Sarawak government was studying how it could take over Bintulu Port.

BPA chairman Dr John Brian Anthony and BPA general manager Zulkurnain Ayub were present with Loke at the press conference.