Malaysia eyes new green tech to boost sustainable palm oil production
04/09/2024 (New Straits Times), Kuala Langat - The government is currently evaluating the use of RT-ECO technology, a cutting-edge method for treating palm oil mill effluent (POME), to enhance sustainable palm oil production in Malaysia.
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said that this effluent treatment technology was well-suited to address global market demands for environmental preservation.
"In the palm oil industry today, environmental concerns are paramount. The global market closely examines how we manage effluent waste before deciding whether to purchase our palm oil or products from other industries with similar waste challenges.
"This strategy encourages innovation in treating effluent before it is discharged, which is crucial for the industry's long-term sustainability and for ensuring water security. If the discharge contaminates drains that flow into rivers, it becomes a national issue," he said during a press conference after visiting an RT-ECO technology demo unit at Seri Morib Palm Oil Mill in Banting today.
Johari said that the ministry's role extended beyond overseeing palm oil production, including seed quality, yield, and milling technology, to ensuring that environmental concerns were effectively managed.
The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has been tasked with assessing the effectiveness of this technology, especially for use by smaller palm oil mills.
"I have instructed the MPOB to thoroughly evaluate this technology, focusing on its durability and effectiveness, before considering its broader implementation across local palm oil mills," said Johari.
Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm oil producer after Indonesia, exported approximately 15 million metric tonnes of palm oil and related products.
RT-ECO, developed by Meru Jaya POME Solutions, uses electrochemical technology to treat POME, making the waste produced during palm oil processing safe and recyclable within the mill, thus aligning with global sustainability standards.
Also present during the visit were MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir and Meru Jaya POME Solutions Sdn Bhd chairman Tan Sri Dr SA Vigneswaran.