Emphasis on cleanliness, safety and environment
KUANTAN: A strict bauxite handling standard operating procedure (SOP) in Kuantan Port awaits bauxite operators as the port authorities want to ensure that there will be no more slipups.
Kuantan Port chief operating officer Mazlim Husin said the new SOP would emphasise cleanliness, safety and the environment.
He said bauxite, which was stored in two central warehouses (one covered and another opened) near multipurpose berths 5 and 6, would be allowed to be moved only when the port authorities received the approved permit, delivery order and shipping call number.
“Bauxite from the central warehouses will be loaded into cargo vessels using two methods, namely the 700m-long conveyor belt system which ensures a better environment control system.
“It was designed solely for bauxite handling and does not cause spillage.
“The second method is by using lorries with bucket from the roofed warehouse to the vessel, which is about 150m away.
“An operator hired by the port authorities will provide the lorries to take the mineral from the warehouse to the vessel.”
He said the central warehouse, which uses the conveyor, had the capacity to store up to 400,000 tonnes of bauxite, while the warehouse deploying the lorries could store 200,000 tonnes of the mineral.
Mazlim said the port had built a perimeter drain, retention pond and treatment plant, and provided a washing bay for the lorries to minimise dirt and pollution.
“Two units of manually handled power sweepers will be used to clean and clear bauxite debris at the berth to avoid the spillage from entering the sea.
“We have upgraded the cleaning method so that it will use minimum water and not cause the sea to turn red due to the spillage.”
He said the conveyor system had the capacity to transfer 2,000 tonnes of bauxite per hour into the vessel while the lorries could load up to 9,000 tonnes into the vessel a day.
On the safety aspects, he said lorries transporting bauxite mineral from the stockpiles from outside Kuantan Port would be allowed to enter the warehouse area only if operators met the stipulated requirements.
“Lorries entering the port compound must have the bucket covered, do not overload, adhere to all safety features, including brake lights, and provide related documents.
“Operators will have to adhere to the yard cycle as we do not want them to store the minerals in the warehouse for a long period without knowing when the vessels will come to transport them out.
“Each shipper has about 10 days to transport the ore out of the warehouse as we want the yard management to be efficient and work according to schedule to ensure a smooth process.”
Mazlim said with the new SOP in place, he hoped that the mining operators would cooperate to ensure bauxite export activities could be carried out smoothly from Kuantan Port without setbacks.