Malaysia eyes region’s first commercial biomass-ethanol plant

BINTULU: Malaysia may set up the first commercial-scale biomass ethanol plant in the region, following a memorandum of understanding to conduct a detailed feasibility study was signed between a consortium led by the Bintulu-based Hock Lee Group and international bio-tech company Beta Renewables.

Agensi Inovasi Malaysia, which announced the agreement, said the development was in line with the government’s vision for biomass owners to be involved in downstream high-value activities through forging smart partnerships, rather than selling their biomass resources as a commodity.