Patenga Container Terminal operation put off  to May 25 by Saudi RSGT

CHATTOGRAM, May 5: Operation of  Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) of Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) will begin on May 25, and not on April 6, as scheduled.

The delay has been attributed to delay in getting documents from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and procurement of equipment.

The CPA sources said, the documents are expected to be finalised by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) by the middle of the current month.
After receiving documents from the NBR  the RSGT will begin the operations by May 25, CPA sources said.

It is for the first time that  Bangladesh engaged a foreign company to operate its  maritime port.

In December, the CPA inked a concession agreement with Saudi Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) authorising it to operate the newly built Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) for 22 years.

The RSGT is an international company formed in partnership with Malaysian Mining Company (MMC).

In 2023, Bangladesh government took the  decision to make the countrys prime sea port more competitive and of international standard.

Accordingly, the government decided to appoint foreign operators for Patenga Container Terminal (PCT), New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and two of the four-terminal Bay Terminal.

The government decided to appoint foreign operators under Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.

The Chattogram Port handles about 92 per cent of the countrys imports and exports.

Recently, CPA appointed 23 new ship-handling operators to unload imported goods to lighter vessels from mother vessels at the outer anchorage of the Port.