Petronas’s education arm, Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and Malaysian Kuwaiti Investment Co Sdn Bhd (MKIC) have collaborated on the ‘Optimization of Biomass Waste-to-Wealth’ project in Sabah, which aims to explore the use of biomass from palm oil plantations and other waste materials.
This project, based at the Balung Palm Oil Mill in Tawau will span two years, split into three sub-projects led by UTP specialists to address key challenges in the palm oil industry. An integral part of this collaboration is the creation of a biodiesel-powered hybrid plantation vehicle, using palm oil waste and electric technology, aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and conserving electricity.
Concurrently, the Malaysian Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK) is drafting the National Biomass Action Plan 2022-2030. KPK plans to establish centers to process palm oil biomass into various products, including bio-fertilisers and energy. The ministry is also seeking EU recognition for the enhanced Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification under MSPO 2.0.
(Sources: Malay Mail; The Sun Daily)
