Palm oil sector urged to explore waste-to-energy opportunities

BINTULU: Palm oil business communities in the state are encouraged to explore initiatives for converting palm oil waste into energy and other valuable products.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said there is potential in managing palm oil waste.

“Traditionally, we focus on planting palm oil, harvesting the fruits, and then either processing them at mills or exporting them.

“Once the fruits are collected, we tend to overlook the other aspects of palm oil.

“Whereas, in a circular economy, palm oil waste can be transformed into various valuable products such as converted into biomass, animal feed, and even methane gas.

“These are just a few examples. There is a lot more that can be derived from oil palm waste,” he said.

He said this in response to a question on what resources or support does the Sarawak government intend to provide to businesses looking to implement and invest in biomass waste to energy in Sarawak during the Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Renewable Energy Development: A Business Dialogue with Premier of Sarawak at Dinner World Restaurant here today (July 22).

Abang Johari, who is also the Energy and Environment Sustainability Minister, said it unfortunate to see that in the palm oil industry where many stakeholders only focus on harvesting and selling the fruits, without looking at the potential revenue from waste.

“A lot of people involved in palm oil just plant, harvest, and sell the fruits, thinking that’s the end. However, there’s significant value in the waste they are discarding,” he said.

He added that the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) has already responded positively by planning to produce fertiliser and animal feed from palm oil waste.

“If more companies follow this example, the industry could see a range of value-added products, including biomass,” he said.