Regional LNG: New jetty to boost Bintulu's LNG shipments

Bintulu Port in Sarawak will be able to boost its handling capacity of liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo annually after the completion of its RM175 million jetty later this year, Malaysia's Business Times reported Saturday.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said the new jetty will enable the port to handle up to 20.7 million tonnes of LNG annually from 17.7 million tonnes previously. The port handled 1.3 million tonnes of LNG in its first year of operations in 1983.

The port is the only export gateway for Malaysia?s biggest export earner ? LNG produced from the Central Luconia gas field, off the Bintulu coast.

Chan said Bintulu Port, one of the most modern and efficient multi-purpose deep-water ports in South-East Asia, has shown excellent performance.

The port, which covers 320ha, is strategically located along the busy sea lanes between the Far East and Europe. Over the years, the port has grown into one of the main ports in the region.

The port was built primary to handle the export of LNG and petroleum products from Sarawak. Today, it also handles a growing volume of crude oil, petroleum products, palm oil, general cargo, liquid and dry bulk and containerised cargoes.

?Cargo throughput which totalled more than 4.14 million tonnes in 1983 has grown to 25.59 million tonnes in 2002,? Chan told reporters after his visit to the port recently.(*)