MYBIOMASS In Talks To Develop High-Value Chemical Facility

By Nor Baizura Basri CYBERJAYA, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- MYBIOMASS Sdn Bhd, a special purpose vehicle under the Malaysian Biomass Initiative (MBI), is in talks with several international technology partners to develop a high-value chemical facility. MYBIOMASS Managing Director Puvaneswari Ramasamy said the facility would use oil palm biomass as feedstock and convert it into an average of 150,000 to 200,000 BDT a year of high value chemicals. These companies had the technology to convert biomass either into sugar or high value chemical products, and the project which was expected to require an investment of about RM300 million (US$99.19 million) would also involve local plantation firms, she said. The talks were expected to be finalised by year end, she told Bernama. She said there was a lot of international interest in this area. "They are looking at Malaysia as we have an abundance of oil palm biomass but one of their stumbling blocks is always the feedstock supply," she said. To overcome this, she said, the supply needed to be in a sustainable form which means enough quantity and a competitive price compared to other types of feedstock. Malaysia, the world's second largest crude palm oil (CPO) producer, is estimated to have residue or waste from palm oil plantation of about 80 million tonnes per year largely derived from empty fruit bunches (EFBs), trunks, fronds, shell and palm kernel cake. Puvaneswari said the biomass potential was huge but remained untapped as the focus of plantation companies in the country was more on upstream activities. "When we look at high value chemicals, the returns are much better compared to the current utilisation of biomass," she said. The by-products from the conversion process could also be utilised to generate energy, she added. MYBIOMASS, launched by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in November, plays an important role to ensure the sustainable supply of biomass through coordinated collection and aggregation as well as setting up the facilities for conversion technology. Besides harnessing economic opportunities, this initiative will also create research potential and promote the development of human capital in the country. As the focal point for biomass feedstock aggregation and supply, MYBIOMASS will also act as a long-term purchaser of oil palm biomass and brings biomass to market for further optimisation of the resources by moving it into higher value processes. MBI, is one of three quick-win projects under the Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC) and is expected to contribute substantial revenue to gross national income from industrial chemical, product manufacturing and green chemical sectors while addressing environmental issues at the same time. -- BERNAMA