December 22 2003 - BINTULU Port in Sarawak is set to have a new operationsbuilding at its second inner harbour basin.

The new block with a yard is being built at cost of RM116.42 million. Itis expected to be completed and ready for commercial operation in early2005.

Bintulu Port Sdn Bhd (BPSB), the port operating company and a wholly-ownedsubsidiary of Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd, has issued the letter ofacceptance to PPES Works (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd for the construction andcompletion of the proposed building and yard for the second inner harbourbasin.

The management will also be developing a 1km-long general cargo berth atthe second inner harbour basin.

It will be equipped with godowns, a transit shed, close and open yards andother necessary facilities.

Upon receiving the second access channel from the Bintulu Port Authority,the federal regulatory agency in the middle of this year, BPSB has awardedthe first contract to Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd to develop a dedicatedpalm oil terminal.

The RM53.86 million contract is expected to be completed in 2005. Thecompletion will provide better facilities for the palm oil carrierscalling at the terminal, and will further enhance palm oil handlingcapacity at the port.

The port handled close to 750,000 tonnes of palm oil traffic in 2002.

Meanwhile, work on palm oil installation facilities has also beenprogressing well with the issuance letter of acceptance to Trans ResourcesCorp Sdn Bhd for the construction and completion of palm oil bulkingfacilities.

Work on the RM51.21 million tank farm facilities near the second harbourbasin will be completed within nine months.

To further streamline the operations of the edible oil business, BPSB hasincorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary company Biport Bulkers Sdn Bhd withan authorised share capital of RM100 million comprising 100 million sharesof RM1 each.

The company will be involved in palm oil, edible oils, vegetable oils,fats and by-products operations and providing bulking installationfacilities.

Bintulu Port as the multi-purpose deep-water port in Sarawak posted a13.29 per cent increase in revenue to RM223.27 million for the thirdquarter of its financial year ending September 30 2003.

Its profit before tax grew by 44.45 per cent to RM102.69 million in thefirst nine months of 2003 compared with RM71.09 million in thecorresponding period of 2002. PortsWorld.