Lahad Datu biorefinery project first in world

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KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia will become a pioneer in producing high value oleo derivatives such as specialty chemical, olefins, saturated methyl ester and methyl ester sulfonate from palm oil.

The bio-based technology that could be used to produce plastic and nylon products, would be developed through the world’s first Integrated Biorefinery Complex at the Palm Oil Industry Cluster (POIC) located in Lahad Datu.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin said the project, one of the three trigger projects in Sabah and Sarawak, has been approved by the Bioeconomy Transformation Programme (BTP) Steering Committee.

“A total of RM2 billion will be invested for the project… and in terms of technology we are the first and leading country in the biorefinery,” he told reporters after attending the BioBorneo 2015 opening ceremony here yesterday by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Husin.

Also present were BiotechCorp Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Datuk Dr Mohd Nazlee Kamal and Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority CEO cum president Datuk Dr Mohd Yaakob Johari.

Ewon said Genting Plantations Berhad would collaborate with Elevance Renewable Sciences, a chemical company from the United States, to build the biorefinery.

He said two more trigger projects in Sabah and Sarawak with high-impact project are Bio-Compressed Natural Gas from palm oil mill effluent and converting palm oil mill waste into bio-organic fertilisers.

Meanwhile, Mohd Nazlee said the ongoing biorefinery project in Lahad Datu was the chemical process which produced the specialty chemical through chemical reaction of bio based material from the oil palm industry.

He said huge manufacturing facilities would be ready in several phases.

“…the palm oil based is more environmental friendly since the raw material is sustainable,” he added.