KUCHING: Samalaju Port handled 4.940 million tonnes of cargo last year, an increase of 17 per cent compared to 4.221 million tonnes in 2018.
Bintulu Port Holding Berhad group chief executive officer Datuk Mohammad Medan Abdullah said the major contributor to this positive trend was the handling of Alumina Oxide, Silica Quartz and also Coke.
“This year, we expect to handle more cargoes and grow in tandem with the progress of Samalaju Industrial Park,” he said during the handing over of four units of JCB excavators from Trac-Wheels (M) Sdn Bhd to Samalaju Industrial Port Sdn Bhd (SIPSB) on Thursday.
Mohammad added Samalaju Port, which commenced Phase 1 Operation on June 1, 2017, handled mainly dry and break bulk cargoes comprising Alumina Oxide, Manganese Ore, Silica Quartz, Cokes, Coal, Anode Carbon, Aluminium products and also Ferroalloys products.
“Being the gateway for Samalaju Industrial Park, Samalaju Port is committed to providing service excellence in cargo handling and productivity through its ongoing efforts to institute operational excellence initiatives,” he said.
Mohammad explained that the company would strive to improve its operation performance, enhance internal capabilities and processes, ensure availability of assets for its operations and practise rigorous cost management.
In the meantime, he said SIPSB already had three units of excavators which had been utilised for more than five years now.
“The tender for the new excavators was awarded on Aug 19, 2019. Under our agreement for these new JCB Excavators, the delivery period required was five months from the Notice to Commence Works and were due for delivery on Feb 5 this year.
“I am proud that we are able to get the excavators delivered to us two weeks ahead of scheduled time. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the contractor, Trac Wheels Sdn Bhd, for being able to deliver the excavators within the agreed period,” he said.
Besides the four new excavators, he said five new units of Grabs would be delivered to Samalaju Port in the third quarter of this year.
“At the same time, five units of Portable Hoppers, two units of Wheel Loaders and one unit of Level Luffing Crane are currently undergoing the procurement process and will be delivered this year and in 2021,” he said.
