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50 Local SMEs In Commercialisation Of Biomass Technology
KUALA LUMPUR, April 27(Bernama) -- The BiomassIndustries in Malaysia Sustainable Production (Biomass-SP) Project willidentify 50 local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate in thecommercialisation of biomass technology.
Itschairman Tan Sri Ahmad Zaharudin Idrus said that SMEs with proper track recordsand potential biomass technology for commercialisation will be guided withrelevant capacity building and access to funding such as grants, soft loans andventure capital.
"In2012, we plan to bring 50 European Union (EU) companies to explore biomasstechnology and business collaboration with local biomass companies," hetold reporters at the EU-Malaysia Biomass Stakeholders Forum here today.
TheBiomass-SP Project is a collaboration initiative funded by the EU, of which 1.8million euros have been contributed this year for a four-year period.
AhmadZaharudin said the project will provide support for SMEs to adopt sustainableproduction practices in their activities via direct implementation of goodpractices such as environmental management, clean development mechanism andcarbon footprint reduction.
"Itwill give the SMEs in Malaysia the cutting edge they need to grow and excel inthe biomass industry locally and internationally," he said.
AhmadZaharudin said Malaysia was producing a minimum of 168 million tonnes ofbiomass, including timber and oil palm waste, rice husks, coconut trunk fibres,municipal waste and sugar cane waste annually.
"Thefull potential for biomass commercialisation in the country remainsuntapped," he said.
Accordingto Ahmad Zaharudin, biomass has good potential to be used in the manufacturingof value added eco-products like bio-plastics, bio-composites, bio-fertilisers,bio-pellets, green building materials and furniture products.
"Thegeneration of renewable energy using biomass as feedstock which adds value tothe clean development mechanism activities will spur the green technologysector and contribute to the global climate change mitigation effort," hesaid.-- BERNAMA
