29/03/2016 (Bernama) - Oil palm companies can play an important role in the development of renewable energy, says Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun.

He said the biomass the companies produced could be used to generate electricity.

"Why don't the companies establish their own power plants.

"They can also assist the country's effort to supply electricity, at least to surrounding areas of oil palm plantations," he said.

Masidi said oil palm companies should see renewable energy development as a lucrative business that was also environmentally favourable.