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ISKANDAR PUTERI - Tanjung Pelepas Port (PTP), one of the world’s fastest-growing container terminals, is accelerating its transition towards net zero emissions by 2050.
The port’s long-term decarbonisation roadmap is being driven by initiatives such as electrification, the adoption of renewable energy and the development of emerging green fuel infrastructure.
These efforts are also supported by broader sustainability collaboration with international partners, including engagement through Australia-linked regional maritime initiatives.
Together, these measures reinforce PTP’s position as a leading global container hub that continues to balance rapid growth with environmental responsibility.
PTP chief executive officer Mark Hardiman said the port’s emissions reduction pathway is structured across clear milestones, beginning with a 45 per cent reduction by 2030, followed by carbon neutrality by 2040, before achieving full net zero status by 2050.
“We have now started the journey of electrification of the prime movers. The first 52 (electric prime movers) are on their way, all 52 will be in by September.
“A further batch of 76 units is planned for acquisition next year,” he said during a media visit organised by the Australian High Commission recently.
The decarbonisation strategy also includes the full phase-out of diesel-powered rubber-tyred gantry cranes in the short term, alongside medium-term implementation of the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (Cress).
In the longer term, PTP is also advancing its green bunkering strategy as global shipping lines shift towards alternative fuels.
The port completed its first methanol bunkering operation with Maersk in late 2024, followed by liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering with Hapag-Lloyd in 2025.
“There is not a silver bullet to all of this. It is going to be a combination of different things that is going to make the most sense,” Hardiman said.
PTP’s sustainability efforts are further strengthened through international cooperation, including a memorandum of understanding with the Port of Melbourne signed on Oct 29, 2025, during the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The agreement focuses on knowledge exchange in decarbonisation strategies, alternative fuel infrastructure development and regulatory collaboration on low-emission maritime fuels.
Hardiman said the partnership reflects a broader philosophy of shared responsibility in driving maritime sustainability.
“We have always worked on the basis of partnership. Sustainability needs to be grounded in partnership. The collaboration leverages both ports’ experiences in green bunkering and feasibility studies on future fuels.
PTP also plays a significant role in Australia-related trade flows, handling more than 186,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of transhipment cargo linked to Australia in 2025, equivalent to over two million metric tonnes.
Annual bilateral container movement between Malaysia and Australia includes imports of approximately 24,000 to 25,000 TEUs and exports of around 16,000 TEUs.
“So it just shows the importance we play as a hub for connecting Australia to the rest of the world from a sea trade perspective,” Hardiman said.
The port currently connects to around 300 ports globally and works with approximately 20 shipping lines and box operators, reinforcing its status as a key transshipment gateway between East and West trade corridors.
According to Hardiman, PTP has also evolved significantly over the past 25 years from a small fishing settlement into a major economic engine for Johor, generating about 6,700 direct jobs and an estimated 15,000 indirect jobs within the free zone and related industries.
“While expansion continues, PTP maintains strict environmental safeguards in coordination with Malaysia’s Department of Environment.
“These include mandatory green space preservation, ecological mitigation measures, oil spill response systems and mangrove replanting requirements when coastal ecosystems are affected by development,” he said.
PTP emphasised that all growth initiatives are designed to balance economic expansion with environmental stewardship and community responsibility, ensuring long-term sustainability across its operations.