Saturday, June 15, 2002 (The Star) - OLEOCHEMICALS manufacturers currentlyoperating in the Pasir Gudang industrial estate will make investments ofabout RM300mil under their expansion programme within the next two years.Pasir Gudang local council president Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim said theadditional investments were for downstream activities to cater for a risein demand for palm oil by-products.He said there were at present five to seven oleochemicals manufacturersproducing fatty acids, crude and refined glycerine, stearic acid andcuprylic acid in the area.Among the major manufacturers are Kulim (M) Bhd’s Natural OleochemicalsSdn Bhd and Pan Century Oleochemicals Sdn Bhd.Ali, who is also Johor Corp chief executive officer, said the palm oilby-products had wide applications including in food and beverageproduction and health and beauty products.“Demand for palm oil by-products has been strong as more and moreconsumers worldwide go for non-animal fats in their foods and otheritems,” he said after an appearance on a radio talk show in conjunctionwith the 25th anniversary of Pasir Gudang.He said most of the major food and beverage companies and beauty houses inthe world had been using the locally-produced palm oil by-products intheir finished goods.Ali added that the Pasir Gudang–based oleochemicals makers also cateredfor the domestic market, especially the food-based industry.He said Pasir Gudang had developed from a small fishing village into awell-planned industrial estate housing about 300 factories with 30,000employees.He said the Pasir Gudang local council covered an area of 8,923ha andthere was still a further 1,500ha slated for industrial development,including 1,000ha in the nearby Tanjung Langsat area.The 1,887ha Tanjung Langsat industrial park is being developed into apetrochemical hub at a cost of RM501mil by Johor Corp subsidiary,JohorTechnopark Sdn Bhd.The park envisages that petrochemical plants would account for 60% of itsactivities, with gas production, steel-making and marine andmarine-related industries accounting for the balance 40%.(The informations and opinions expressed in this article represent theviews of the author only. They should not be seen as necessarilyreflecting the views of Palm News)