-
2012 May 30 16:54
TIPC to build 14 docks at Kaohsiung Port
Coordinating the government's plan to set up a free economic zone in Kaohsiung Port, Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC), a semi-official organisation engaged in port operations, is to invest over US$3.38 billion to build 14 docks at Kaohsiung International Container Terminal, southern Taiwan, reported Taiwan Economic News.
President Ma Ying-jeou stated earlier that the government would actively push forward the establishment of a demonstrative free economic zone in Kaohsiung Port, which will be incorporated with nearby industrial parks and export processing zones to enhance efficiency of added value, and then this will be duplicated in other places in Taiwan to drive up its export-driven economy in the future.
Recently, TIPC held the groundbreaking ceremony for the second-stage construction of the Kaohsiung International Container Terminal, which is part of the government's free-zone establishment plan, with both President Ma and Transport and Communications Minister Mao Chi-kuo taking part.
TIPC chairman Hsiao Ding-hsun said at the ceremony that the construction will begin with building seawalls along a 6,500m long coastline, and then 422 hectares of a land lot will be reclaimed to accommodate 19 docks in the container terminal. The construction is scheduled to be completed in 2019.
Of the 19 planned docks, 10, which will be dedicated to storage of petrochemical products, will be contract constructed by other companies on a BOT (build operate transfer) basis starting at the end of this year, along with four ones handling bulk and sundry goods to be built by TIPC on its own. The 14 docks will be completed at the end of 2014.
A score of petrochemical companies operating in Kaohsiung Port now will also finance the land reclamation, so as to acquire their needed land lots to accommodate their facilities in the terminal.