KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- Local industries processing fibre fromempty fruit bunches (EFBs) of oil palms should not only produce Ecomat, abio-degradable mulching and soil erosion geotextile mat, but also otherproducts, said the Minister of Energy, Water and Communications, DatukSeri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, Friday.

EFBs have other uses like for composting into fertiliser, making mediumdensity and high density fibreboards, moulded particleboards as well aspulp and paper, he said.

These products also have high demand in local and overseas markets, hesaid at the launch of Ecofuture Bhd's logo here.

Ecofuture, which is enroute to a listing on the Mesdaq market on BursaMalaysia, is involved in the development and commercialisation of oil palmbased on recycling technologies.

Ecomat is a fibremat developed from EFB, a by-product from palm oil mills.It can be used to improve the soil's organic matter, for moistureretention capacity, reducing soil erosion and fertiliser loss as well assuppressing weed growth.

Dr Lim told Ecofuture to consider developing more of such products fromoil palm biomass.

"By becoming a major player in the oil palm fibre industry, Ecofuture iswell-positioned to harness and exploit the huge natural resource producedby the palm oil sector," he said.

Dr Lim said Ecomat was now being evaluated in China for combatingsandstorms in the desert and semi-desert areas around Beijing.

It had also been used for a forestry project in Yanqing county and theplanting of trees and landscaping around the 2008 Olympic site in Shunyicounty.

"I understand that other countries with large semi desert areas may beinterested to adopt Ecomat for the rehabilitation of their desert areas,"Dr Lim said, adding that recent discussions with the Lebanese governmentmay lead to further trials.

-- BERNAMA