ISKANDAR PUTERI: Malaysia’s ports must accelerate decarbonisation efforts to meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) requirement to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
He said the decarbonisation agenda covered the shipping industry and port operations, with alternative fuels such as methanol, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and ammonia among the options being considered by the international shipping industry.
“First, this is our obligation to the international community under the IMO requirement. We have to achieve net-zero by 2050. We have a 24-year runway.
“Net-zero means that we have to ensure the decarbonisation agenda can be met,” he said at a press conference after the “Driving Decarbonisation: PTP e-PM Fleet Launch” at Wisma Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) here today.
Loke said the global transition towards alternative marine fuels is an opportunity for Malaysia to position its ports as green bunkering hubs to supply new energy sources to the international shipping industry.
He said decarbonisation efforts must also extend to port operations, particularly machinery such as prime movers, quay cranes and other equipment which traditionally relied on diesel.
“It is a new opportunity for us. If the shipping industry moves towards alternative energy, we will have the opportunity to supply that new energy. And we want to position our port as a green bunkering hub. This is an opportunity, and an obligation at the international level.
“Secondly, in terms of decarbonisation, it’s not only at the ship level, but at the port operations level to reduce emissions,” he said.
Loke cited PTP’s transition from diesel-powered prime movers to electric prime movers as an example to reduce emissions at the port operations level.
These initiatives are needed to improve the environment and ensure compliance with environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements.
On whether the use of e-prime movers will be expanded to other ports, Loke said this depends on individual port operators because they will have to fund the investment.
“The government is not spending money on these e-prime movers. They are funded by port operators such as PTP,” he said.
He noted that PTP is currently somewhat ahead in this regard, but expressed confidence that other port operators would also need to take similar steps to meet ESG requirements and decarbonisation agendas.
“PTP is quite advanced in this matter. And we are confident that other port operators will also need to take similar steps, as they too must comply with ESG standards and decarbonisation requirements,” he said.
Loke said ESG compliance has become increasingly important for private companies because failure to meet these standards could undermine their competitiveness.
“This is a crucial matter for private companies. If they fail to comply with ESG standards, their competitiveness could be compromised. Therefore, I am confident that other port operators will follow suit,” he said.
