A Group of researchers pay a visit to Next Generation Oil Sdn. Bhd. (NGO) on 20^th Jan 2022 since the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and NGO have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to valorise the post extracted algae residue (PEAR) for the production of useful chemicals, animal feeds and other biomaterials. The visit was led by the Director of the University Community Transformation Center, (UCTC) Professor Dr. Loh Teck Chwen, Associate. Prof. Dr. Mohd Rafein Zakaria (Institute of Plantation Studies), Associate Prof. Dr. Mohd Razif Harun (Faculty of Engineering) and other officers. Next Generation Oil Sdn Bhd plans to develop 15,378.05 hectares of algae plantations in Malaysia at a development cost of US$38 billion (US$1=RM4.2030) over the next 12 years.  The company plans to cultivate 68 million tonnes of algae biomass to absorb some 76 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and produce about 34 million tonnes of crude algae oil and PEAR. The massive PEAR production instead of burning and landfilling will be converted to useful by-products such as biochemicals, animal feeds and biomaterials using appropriate technologies available from UPM.  The project aims to benefit the people (new job creations), industry (new profit stream gains from sustainable and green processes and new business ecosystems) and planet (CO2 reduction, alternative fuels and chemicals) supporting the government's net-zero carbon aspirations.

Date of Input: 03/03/2022 | Updated: 03/03/2022 | ainzubaidah