KOTA KINABALU: The world’s first biomass joint-venture cluster will be launched at the fifth International Palm Oil Expo (PalmEx) 2014 in Sandakan on May 21 to 23.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman is expected to launch the event which is jointly organised by the Ministry of Industrial Development (MID), Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR), Fireworks Event (M) Sdn Bhd, Palm Oil Industry Cluster (POIC) Sabah Sdn Bhd, Sandakan Bulkers Sdn Bhd and Sandakan Municipal Council.
During a press conference held at Wisma Tun Fuad Stephen here yesterday, organising chairman of the event, Patrick Tan, who is also director of DIDR, disclosed that the launching of the biomass joint-venture (JV) company would have a major impact in the realisation of a large scale oil palm biomass utilisation in Sabah, potentially worth billions of ringgit.
“The biomass JV company will be the culmination of the joint efforts of Agensi Inovasi Malaysia and state agencies in bringing together oil palm mill owners to aggregate biomass in volumes large enough to ensure the sustainability of downstream industries, including making pellets and bio-chemicals.
“Sabah produces more than 20 million tons of oil palm biomass but aggregating this valuable feedstock had been a big problem with no existing pricing mechanisms and transportation costs as being a major inhibitor because the mills are scattered over a wide area,” said Tan.
He added that exhibitions such as PalmEx was vital as industry players in Sabah continued to push for value-adding industries using palm oil as well as biomass generated from the plantations and mills.
Chief executive officer of POIC Sabah, Datuk Dr Pang Teck Wai, noted that establishing a biomass JV in the state would expand the state’s potential in the biomass industry to be fully explored.
Meanwhile, PalmEx was initiated five years ago by a peninsula-based company, Fireworks Event (M) Sdn Bhd, which chose Sabah as ‘home’ for PalmEx by virtue of Sabah being the biggest palm oil growing state in Malaysia.
The event will see big names in the industry taking part in the exhibition, showcasing products and technology of categories such as palm kernel oil expeller, empty fruit bunch machinery, soil stabilisation, soil road sealant, valves, bio-technology, palm oil chain, wastewater and dewatering pumps and bearings.
A one-day conference on the “New Business Opportunities in Biomass Downstream” will also be held on May 22 at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Sandakan, featuring international and local speakers.
Seven papers by industry players, technology suppliers and policy makers are expected to be presented, including updates on the National Biomass Strategy by Agensi Inovasi Malaysia, and the experience of a Selangor-based company, Detik Aturan Sdn Bhd, in exporting pellets made from oil palm waste.
Admission to this event is complimentary and open only to trade visitors and educational institutes.
Visitors can also pre-register online at www.asiapalmoil.com.