Industry Stakeholders Call For Stronger Collaboration To Unlock Oil Palm Biomass Utilisation

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) -- Industry stakeholders have urged stronger collaboration and more coherent policy direction to accelerate the use of oil palm biomass in supporting Malaysia’s low-carbon goals.

The call was made during the 5th International Oil Palm Biomass Conference 2025, held on April 14-15. The conference brought together researchers, policymakers, and industry players to discuss pathways for sustainable biomass utilisation.

Chemical engineer Hong Wai Onn from the Research Institute for Sustainable Excellence and Leadership (RISEL), who was one of the panellists at the conference, highlighted the underutilisation of oil palm biomass and stressed the need for better coordination among stakeholders.

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“The oil palm industry produces over 100 million tonnes of dry biomass annually—including trunks, fronds, empty fruit bunches, and palm kernel shells—which are often treated as waste but hold significant untapped potential,” he said.

Hong proposed a collaborative ecosystem with four key players: government agencies, sustainability standard owners, technology providers, and biomass producers and valorisers.

“To truly transform the industry, we need synergy across these four pillars, with governments providing clear policy direction and funding support, standard owners encouraging carbon footprint reductions, technology providers offering cost-effective solutions, and producers and valorisers committing to sustainability standards and ensuring stable supply and demand,” he explained. 

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The panel also tackled policy gaps and regulatory bottlenecks that hinder effective biomass utilisation.

Hong recommended the establishment of an inter-ministerial biomass task force to align priorities across key sectors such as agriculture, energy, environment, industry, and science and technology. He also proposed joint funding mechanisms and shared key performance indicators (KPIs) to improve cross-agency cooperation.

“Each stakeholder plays a vital role in driving biomass valorisation. Without their collective commitment, these initiatives will struggle to gain meaningful traction,” he said. 

Officiated by Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Chan Foong Hin, on behalf of Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, the conference brought together industry leaders, government officials, and researchers to explore the potential of converting oil palm biomass into high-value products, reinforcing both economic development and environmental goals.

-- BERNAMA