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New Technology To Make Paper From Oil Palm Fibre Should Be Explored
New Technology To Make Paper From Oil Palm Fibre Should Be Explored
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (Bernama) -- Making paper from oil palm fibre should be widely explored through research and development (R&D) to overcome the shortage of paper supply in future.
Natural Resources and Environment Deputy Minister Datuk S. Sothinathan said the private sector should cooperate with the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) in the latter's effort of using oil palm fibre to make paper, which was something new in the industry.
"When there's a shortage of paper supply, wood pulp will still be used, which means more trees will be chopped down, incurring a high cost besides destroying the environment," he told reporters after opening a seminar on "New Technology in the Pulp and Paper Industry" here Tuesday.
Also present was FRIM director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Razak Mohd Ali and the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Suboh Mohd Yassin.
Sothinathan called on local companies involved in the paper industry to also carry out R&D to come up with new products.
He said the use of new technology could help the country become more productive in the pulp and paper industry and contribute to the economy.
Meanwhile, Dr Abdul Razak said that R&D in pulp and paper was part of the national agenda as it was a strategic industry.
He said FRIM had underlined the importance of continuous research into emerging materials for pulp and paper in line with the Ninth Malaysia Plan 2006-2010.
"Besides oil palm fibre, we will also focus on non-conventional materials that can produce premium grade, specialty pulp and related products.
"These include kenaf plant fibre, oil palm fronds and rice straws," he said, adding that FRIM's ongoing projects also included research on fast-growing species as well as secondary fibres for making paper.
"With such programmes, FRIM will be able to develop innovative products and improve the processes, which we hope will eventually be taken up by the industry."
-- BERNAMA
Natural Resources and Environment Deputy Minister Datuk S. Sothinathan said the private sector should cooperate with the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) in the latter's effort of using oil palm fibre to make paper, which was something new in the industry.
"When there's a shortage of paper supply, wood pulp will still be used, which means more trees will be chopped down, incurring a high cost besides destroying the environment," he told reporters after opening a seminar on "New Technology in the Pulp and Paper Industry" here Tuesday.
Also present was FRIM director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Razak Mohd Ali and the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Suboh Mohd Yassin.
Sothinathan called on local companies involved in the paper industry to also carry out R&D to come up with new products.
He said the use of new technology could help the country become more productive in the pulp and paper industry and contribute to the economy.
Meanwhile, Dr Abdul Razak said that R&D in pulp and paper was part of the national agenda as it was a strategic industry.
He said FRIM had underlined the importance of continuous research into emerging materials for pulp and paper in line with the Ninth Malaysia Plan 2006-2010.
"Besides oil palm fibre, we will also focus on non-conventional materials that can produce premium grade, specialty pulp and related products.
"These include kenaf plant fibre, oil palm fronds and rice straws," he said, adding that FRIM's ongoing projects also included research on fast-growing species as well as secondary fibres for making paper.
"With such programmes, FRIM will be able to develop innovative products and improve the processes, which we hope will eventually be taken up by the industry."
-- BERNAMA