Kuala Lumpur: MTC Orec Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian bioenergy engineering company, has formed a new partnership with Japan’s IHI Plant Services Corp (IPC) to boost the development of biomethane in Malaysia. IPC is a part of the larger IHI Group, reports Business Times.
MTC Orec, a local firm, specializes in the entire process of creating bioenergy, from making biogas and refining it into biomethane, to developing eco-friendly fuels for ships and airplanes.
The two companies have signed a new agreement to work together on an advanced system that combines MTC Orec’s “Anaerobic Lagoon” technology with IPC’s special “IC Reactor.” This innovative system is designed to improve how biogas is captured from palm oil mill effluent (POME), which is a nutrient-rich waste product from palm oil processing. The goal is to make the production of renewable energy more efficient and sustainable.
Once collected, the biogas will be cleaned and turned into biomethane. This is a clean, valuable fuel that is similar to natural gas but produces over 90 percent less carbon pollution.
By improving how they treat their waste, palm oil mills can more easily meet environmental rules and reduce their impact on nature. This project will also help reduce methane emissions, a significant contributor to climate change, by trapping this powerful greenhouse gas and turning it into a usable renewable fuel.
Beyond its use as a clean energy source, biomethane can also be used to create other valuable products like liquid biomethane, bio-ammonia, and bio-methanol. These fuels are becoming increasingly important for the shipping and aviation industries.
Dr. Zahari Mohamad, CEO of MTC Orec, stated, “This collaboration with IHI Plant Services marks a crucial step forward in advancing biomethane development in Malaysia.”
Ryoji Aoki, President of IHI Plant Services, added that the technologies from both companies naturally work well together. He believes their combined efforts can help solve environmental problems while creating valuable new products.
“Through these initiatives, we aim to make the palm oil industry, which is a key industry in Southeast Asia, more sustainable,” he said.
