Oil palm planters want incineration of empty fruit bunches to be allowed

KUCHING (Sept 24): The oil palm industry is appealing for an extension of the incineration process that converts empty fruit bunches (EFB) into organic fertiliser.

According to Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (Soppoa) chairman Eric Kiu Kwong Seng, the Department of Environment’s (DoE) current prohibition stems from concerns over smoke emissions during the incineration process.

According to him, the process is essential for managing EFB waste and producing valuable organic fertiliser that could support sustainable agriculture.

“To address the DoE’s concerns, the industry is willing to collaborate with environmental authorities to explore modern technologies and alternative methods to reduce emissions,” he said in a press statement today.

“Innovations such as more efficient incinerators or smoke-capture technologies, which are not available at this moment, could be explored to ensure compliance with environmental regulations while still allowing the process to proceed.”

He said the goal is to strike a balance between waste management, sustainability, and environmental protection, ensuring that the palm oil sector can continue to contribute to the circular economy.

Kiu said oil palm plantations play a significant role in carbon sequestration, but they are currently excluded from carbon credit schemes as the oil palm is not classified as a ‘tree’ under the international carbon trading framework.

According to him, this classification, which disqualifies oil palm plantations from benefiting from carbon credit systems, overlooks the plantations’ capacity to absorb and store carbon dioxide over long periods.

“As a result, plantation owners are deprived of the opportunity to participate in carbon trading markets, a potentially additional avenue that could fund further sustainability efforts in the industry,” he said.

Kiu said the industry is advocating for the recognition of oil palm as a carbon-sequestering plant, urging policymakers to reassess this classification.

“Scientific data has demonstrated the ability of oil palm plantations to capture significant amounts of atmospheric carbon, contributing to climate mitigation.

“By acknowledging this, oil palm plantations could be included in carbon credit markets, providing the sector with additional revenue streams.

“This move would not only incentivise more sustainable practices but also position the oil palm industry as an active contributor to global carbon reduction efforts,” he said.

The press statement was issued following Soppoa’s follow-up meeting with Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Abang Hipni at his office here yesterday, where several key issues impacting the operations of the palm oil supply chain were discussed.

Among those present at the meeting were Soppoa chief executive officer Dr Felix Moh Mee Ho; members Kong Chong Ming, Zarlizan Zahliman, George Akam, Jeffrey Tiong, Teoh Kheng Hock, Andy Wong Ko Hock, Tang Si Lui, Basil Chua, and Luke Lau; as well as Kenny Voon from the Natural Resources and Environment Board.