GOVERNMENT TO ADOPT POLICY ON GREEN ENERGY SOON, SAYS MINISTER

KOTA KINABALU (Malaysia), Feb 8 (Bernama) -- The government is studying the
possibility of adopting a policy on green energy management, particularly the
use of biomass waste for power generation in the country.

Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Bernard Dompok said the
Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), has commissioned a study on the matter, with
special focus on the maximum utilisation of this waste as well as the highest
efficiency.

"I expect the study to be completed in two months. This will enable us
to adopt a clear policy and direction, as far as green energy is concerned," he
told reporters after launching the Palm Oil Industry Labour Issues, Performance
and Sustainability Workshop, here,the capital of East Malaysia state of Sabah,
Monday.

Dompok said his ministry was committed to contributing towards the success
of the study in line with Prime Minister Najib Razak's commitment on green
energy management at the United Nations Copenhagen Climate Change Conference
last December.

"The Prime Minister himself is keen on the development of green energy. The
potential is good for Malaysia, as the biomass can produce an estimated 1,065
megawatts of electricity and 270 megawatts of biogas.

"MPOB has thus commissioned the study to see how this potential can be
harnessed. Hopefully, once the study is completed, we will have a clearer view
of how it can be implemented," he said.

Dompok said there was a need for a proper policy to ensure among others, the
steady supply of biomass for power generation, including by Independent Power
Producers (IPPs).

Earlier, in his speech, Dompok said the oil palm industry contributed
RM49.59 billion in export revenue last year.

"While the overall performance of the industry continues to show progress,
productivity still plagues it, with average fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) yield
stagnating at around 20 tonnes per hectare annualy," he disclosed.

He said the oil extraction rate (OER) registered a slight increase of 1.4
per cent to 20.49 per cent while the area planted with oil palm, increased by
4.5 per cent to 4.69 million hectares.

"Total palm oil production dropped from 17.73 million to 17.56 million
tonnes. But total palm oil exports, increased by 2.9 per cent to 15.86 million
tonnes," he highlighted.

Dompok said Sabah is currently the state with the largest oil palm area with
1.36 million hectares or 29 per cent of the total area under cultivation.

He also said the oil palm industry provided employment to 325,074 workers in
2000 and this increased by 88 per cent to 610,135 in 2008.

Of this, 82 per cent or 500,817 workers were employed in the plantation
sector with 75 per cent or 376,906, being foreign workers, he indicated.

"The industry has to change its mindset and shift to a new paradigm as
foreign labour will be increasingly scarce and costly in the near future," he
said.

On the use of mechanical cutters known as Cantas, Dompok said the MPOB is
promoting it as a tool for harvesting FFBs.

"By using Cantas, a harvester can cover an area of 50 hectares compared to
21 hectares, if he uses the sickle. Cantas can also be used to harvest FFBs at a
height of five meters, which is the growth pattern of a 13-year old oil palm
trees," he added. (US$1=RM3.45)
-- BERNAMA