https://opiej.mpob.gov.my Oil Palm Industry Economic Journal Tue, 28 Aug 2018 14:02:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://opiej.mpob.gov.my/a-study-on-the-malaysian-oil-palm-biomass-sector-supply-and-perception-of-palm-oil-millers/ Tue, 28 Aug 2018 14:02:00 +0000 https://opiej.mpob.gov.my/?p=297 Read more]]> From 379 palm oil mills in Malaysia that responded to the survey, about 30% or 120 of them were involved in utilising biomass [either empty fruit bunches (EFB) or palm oil mill effluent (POME)] by turning this biomass into EFB fibre, bio-fertiliser or biogas. Nevertheless, some of the millers who have not been involved in utilising biomass actually returned the EFB to plantation as mulching. Most of the millers agreed that policy related to biomass needs to be firm up. Environment sustainability is a concern of the millers. Study suggested that policy on biomass need to be provided as well as economic evaluation on biomass projects to the millers.

]]> https://opiej.mpob.gov.my/blending-of-palm-biomass-and-coal-an-alternative-fuel-for-power-generation-in-malaysia/ Tue, 28 Aug 2018 05:09:26 +0000 https://opiej.mpob.gov.my/?p=212 Read more]]> Palm oil mills in Malaysia generate vast amounts of biomass wastes such as empty fruit bunches (EFB), fibre and shell. The mills burn the shell and pressed fibre to generate their own heat and electricity, but the EFB is surplus to its requirements although a legitimate fuel in its own right. With growing environmental consciousness, high petroleum prices and depleting fossil fuels, the palm biomass can be burnt in coalfired generating plants to produce green electricity for the country. How this can be done in Malaysian scenario is discussed.

]]> https://opiej.mpob.gov.my/empty-fruit-bunches-evaluation-mulch-in-plantation-vs-fuel-for-electricity-generation/ Tue, 28 Aug 2018 00:26:10 +0000 https://opiej.mpob.gov.my/?p=129 Read more]]> There are compelling reasons for supporting the use of empty fruit bunches (EFB) as a source of fuelfor renewable energy (RE) power generation. Although the current use of EFB as a mulch does have financial benefits, there are better financial gains, with a number of other advantages when used as a fuel for RE power generation. The rapid depletion of fossil fuel needs an alternative replacement and most developed nations are pursuing the development of biomass as an alternative method of power generation. In Malaysia, fortunately the country has a ready source of biomass in EFB. It is conveniently collected and available for exploitation in all palm oil mills. All that needs to be done is to convert the energy in the fuel in the most efficient manner and the country is well on the way to pursue this most important and sustainable renewable source of energy for the future. As the country has to meet the target of achieving 5% of its grid connected electrical energy from this source by the year 2005, it has to move fast. The main achievement will be the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) if biomass-based RE power generation is used where there is a gain of substantial volume of carbon credits. This factor alone is a compelling reason to pursue. A deeper insight into the mechanism of EFB utilization with the financial analysis, if used as a mulch or fuel, is presented in this paper, without taking into account the capital investment involved in the RE power project.

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