SALCRA Urged To Explore Oil Palm Waste Potential To Produce SAF
KUCHING: The Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) has been urged to explore the potential of producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from oil palm waste as a new area to broaden its income sources and economic activities.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said the proposal deserves to be studied, looking at the potential of combining oil palm by-products with hydrocarbons to produce new aviation fuel products.
He said oil palm waste has great potential to be developed into high-value products, besides opening opportunities for SALCRA to venture into technology-based downstream industries.
"In this regard, oil palm waste has many opportunities to become an industry.
"That is why we should look at SALCRA's business more broadly. Firstly, of course, fertiliser, secondly biomass and also many other types of waste," he said.
He said this in his speech at the Golden Jubilee Gala Dinner in conjunction with SALCRA's 50th anniversary celebration at Imperial Hotel, Kuching on Monday.
Elaborating, the Sarawak Premier said one potential that could be studied is the use of fatty acids derived from oil palm, combined with hydrocarbons, to produce aviation fuel.
He said that if the research and technology are successfully developed, it could transform SALCRA's entire business landscape.
"This is only a proposal and research needs to be done, but if it succeeds, it can transform the whole of SALCRA's business," he said.
He added that exploring the new industry is in line with Sarawak's efforts to increase the value of its existing resources and move towards a modern, technology-based economy.
He also envisioned SALCRA becoming one of the new players in the aviation fuel industry chain if the technology is realised.
"Imagine if we succeed in what is called hybrid aviation fuel, SALCRA could become like Aramco (a Saudi Arabian oil company) in Sarawak," he said.
He said success in exploring the field would not only add value to the oil palm industry but also has the potential to create a new economic source for Sarawak.
Also present were Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, state ministers and deputy ministers and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews
