By Natasha Jee & Nia Natasha Hasenan
KUCHING: The Sarawak government has requested Craun Research Sdn Bhd to conduct further research into oil palm waste.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said just like waste from sago palm that could be treated, there was a possibility that waste from oil palm could also be processed.
“I think one of the products from oil palm waste is that it can be turned into fertiliser, and that can be done as the basis for us to add value to our oil palm waste and perhaps we will also have renewable-based gas,” he said at the memorandum of agreement (MOA) ceremony between Craun Research Sdn Bhd and Knowledge Integration Services (Singapore) Pte Ltd and Nitsei Sago Industries Sdn Bhd at UCSI Hotel here on Monday (Oct 19).
He mentioned that if the biogas could be produced from the waste of oil palm, then it could be used domestically or as gas distribution, as now the state had the autonomy.
“We can build the distribution network for the biogas to be used by our community, that is produced by either sago or oil palm.
“…and that will definitely reduce consumption of gas from other hydrocarbon, because this one is from renewable-based gas.
“If that happens, of course the price of domestic gas will be cheaper, that also means that the cost of doing business will be cheap. Once you have advantage on cost saving in terms of doing business, definitely your products will be competitive.”
Abang Johari hoped that Craun would extend studies on this. “At the end of the day, I think we will have our own domestic renewable-based gas.”
He also added that the state government had allocated a huge amount of funds for research and development projects over the past three years.
“We have the resources, the only thing that we are lacking is research. We go for research; the return will be there and job opportunities will be created for the people.”
Craun Research Sdn Bhd is an agency under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research and Biotechnological Council.
The agency conducts research and development activities that focuses on sago.
