Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Port Authority (SPA) Chairman Datuk Zaki Gusmiah said the RM138 million Sepanggar Container Port Terminal (SCPT) is 80 per cent complete and will be ready for operation in March next year.

"The construction of the wharf is in fact completed and the contractor is doing final touch-ups to the main terminal, the administration office and also the electrical wiring," he said.

Zaki told reporters this after a briefing by the consultant Andrew Walker at the site of the terminal Monday.

He is confident the contractor will be able to complete in time the whole project which has been delayed for almost two years.

In July 2003 SPA issued a one-month ultimatum to the contractors assigned to build SCPT or risk having their awards terminated.

However, Zaki said he is happy that finally the long awaited completion of the terminal is coming through and expressed optimism that once in operation it would enhance the efficiency of the overall port operations and ease congestion at the Kota Kinabalu port.

Earlier, Zaki together with SPA's newly-appointed Board of Directors visited the Kota Kinabalu port and Jesselton Point before proceeding to Sepanggar.

At Jesselton Point, Zaki and his entourage were briefed by Zainie Abdul Aucasa, the General Manager and Group Financial Controller of Suria Capital, on the development of the Jesselton Point.

Zainie said the official launching of Jesselton Point is slated for Sept 17.