KERTIH, TERENGGANU: Arkema, France’s leading chemicals producer, expects its new RM2 billion bio-methionine and thiochemical plant in Kertih, Terengganu to contribute substantially to global revenue.
Its executive vice-president, Marc Schuller said the thiochemical plant at the Kertih BioPolymer Park which will come onstream at the end of 2013, is the first outside Europe and the United States for the company.
“We have set our goal of achieving more than 30 per cent of total revenue to come from Asia within three to five years, from 25 per cent today. This plant in Kertih will enable us to fill the gap,” he told Bernama after the ground breaking ceremony of the RM2 billion plant yesterday.
Arkema is investing in the plant with CJ CheilJedang, a Korea-based food, feed and bioscience company.
The integrated facility will be the first globally to use the fermentation process in producing L-methionine, an amino acid commonly used in the manufacture of animal feed.
The East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) and Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp) are joint-promoters of the project.
Schuller said Malaysia was chosen as a major investment for Arkema due to its strategic location to regional markets, as well a good infrastructure facilities, availability of feedstock and business environment as well as incentives.
Meanwhile, CJ CheilJedang’s Chief Executive Officer, Kim Chul Ha in his speech at the ground breaking ceremony said: “This is a very significant day for CJ’s BIO business in its 45-year history.
“In many ways, it is the start of a new beginning for CJ as Bio-Methionine will be the first major new product that will decide the future of the company’s BIO business for the next 50 years.
“At the same time, the Bio-Methionine Project will be the first major joint-venture with a respected chemical company in Arkema.” — Bernama