Kuala Lumpur, Monday (June 2, 2014) Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation(BiotechCorp) and International Clean Energy & Sustainability Network (ICESN) is organizing the 3rd Biogas Asia Pacific Forum on 2-4 June 2014 at JW Marriott Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

The Biogas Asia Pacific was a perfect platform to bring international attention to Malaysia’s plans for biogas development and furthermore, provide commercial opportunities for suppliers to implement the biogas technology. Among highlights of the forum topics include “The Malaysia Biogas Masterplan: Creating a Commercial Biogas Hub” by Razwin Sulairee Hasnan Termizi of BiotechCorp, “Biogas Opportunity in Municipal Solid Waste” by Dr. Mohd Pauzee from Research Technology, Industrial and Construction Waste Division and “Updates and the Future Direction of Thailand’s Biogas Development Plans” by Jariya Budnard from the Ministry of Energy, Thailand.

In his presentation, BiotechCorp’s Chief Operating Officer, Razwin Sulairee Hasnan Termizi pointed out that BiotechCorp as a Bio-Industry developer will accelerate and enhance the growth of the bio-based industry particularly the biogas industry. He highlighted that biogas and its subset have been identified as crux of our biofuel focus and is an important cluster under the National Key Economic Area (NKEA) and Bioeconomy Transformation Programme (BTP).

He added that Malaysia has a vast potential for utilising biogas resources from palm oil mills, water treatment plants, landfills and agriculture farms. Coupling the advantages of the country’s sustainable biomass feedstock as well as the government’s focus on green and renewable technologies are the country’s strategic advantage for developing Malaysia as a biogas hub in Asia.

To boost the image of a greener and sustainable palm oil industry, the Government imposed a mandatory requirement for all mills in Malaysia to install biogas trapping and methane avoidance facilities by 2018. The Government of Malaysia are also planning to revise incentives for biogas to encourage more investment in the sector and channel more energy into the national power grid. Recently, the Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia (SEDA) announced the degression rates for both biomass and biogas have been reduced from 0.5% to 0%. In addition, the bonus rates for using Malaysian manufactured or assembled gas engine, boiler or gasifiers have been increased from RM 0.01 per kWh to RM0.05 per kWh. The reduced degression rates and increased bonus rates aim to boost the low take up rates of biomass and biogas.

Malaysia consumed about 9.0 billion meter cube of Natural Gas in 2013. The 1.9 billion meter cube produced by POME alone constitutes to 24% of Malaysia’s gas consumption. Out of the total national consumption, the industrial sector consumes slightly above 50% and utilizing biogas will feed half of the needs of the industrial sector. At today’s prices, that’s over USD 880 million that’s waiting to for investors and biogas developers to tap. This event were well attended by distinguish speakers from the Asia Pacific region, including foreign and
local government agencies such as Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), SIRIM Berhad, Malaysia Debt Ventures Berhad (MDV) , Solid Waste & Public Cleansing Management Corporation (PPSPPA) and also BioNexus status companies.

For media inquiries, kindly contact:
BiotechCorp

DAZRENE AZMIL DARUS
Manager, Strategic Communications
Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation
Tel/Fax : +603 2116 5158
Email:dazrene.darus@biotechcorp.com.my