PTP commissions Malaysia’s first electric prime movers

Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), a joint venture between Malaysia-based MMC

Group and APM Terminals, has commissioned the first 21 electric prime movers

(e-PMs) from a 52-unit order, becoming the first port in Malaysia to put the

equipment into operation.

　　The units, supplied by Terberg Tractors Malaysia (TTM), entered service on

11 August and will support horizontal container movements within the terminal.

TTM manufactures the e-PMs in Pasir Gudang, Johor.

PTP signed a procurement agreement with TTM in December 2025 for 52 e-PMs.

The remaining 31 units are due to be delivered in batches through to the end of

September 2026.

The deployment follows a proof of concept carried out between 2023 and

2024. According to PTP, the trial found that an electric prime mover generated

4,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kgCO₂eq) per month, compared with

7,600 kgCO₂eq for a conventional unit. This represented a 48 per cent reduction

in emissions.

PTP also reported that monthly operating costs per unit were 57 per cent

lower during the trial.

PTP Chief Executive Officer Mark Hardiman said the new equipment forms part

of the terminal’s wider expansion programme.

“These new assets are not solely about advancing our sustainability

ambitions. They also form an integral part of PTP’s long-term expansion

programme, which will increase the port’s handling capacity to 16.3 million TEUs

annually by 2029, enabling us to deliver greater capacity, reliability and

efficiency to support growing trade volumes and our customers’ future

requirements.”

The terminal is targeting a 45 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by

2030 as part of its pathway towards net-zero emissions by 2050.

PTP said it has progressively electrified its rubber-tyred gantry crane

fleet since 2011, with 245 electric RTGs now in operation. The introduction of

electric prime movers extends this programme to horizontal transport

equipment.

Malaysia’s Minister of Transport, Loke Siew Fook, said the locally

manufactured equipment also reflected domestic engineering and manufacturing

capability.

TTM Chief Executive Officer Boo Wei Ching added: “The commissioning of

these e-PMs demonstrates the capability of Malaysian engineering and

manufacturing to support world-class port operations. Beyond supplying the

equipment, our teams have worked closely with PTP throughout the testing,

commissioning and operational readiness process to ensure every unit performs

reliably in a demanding terminal environment. We look forward to supporting PTP

as the remaining units are progressively commissioned in the months ahead.”

Once the remaining units are commissioned, PTP will operate all 52 e-PMs

covered by the December procurement agreement.