The Biomass Industries in Malaysia Sustainable
Production (Biomass-SP) project will identify 50 local small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) to participate in the commercialisation of biomass
technology with their counterparts in the European Union (EU) in two
years.
Biomass-SP chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Zaharudin Idrus said only SMEs with
proper track records, which show a great potential for commercialisation
will be picked, groomed and given access to the relevant grants, soft
loans and venture capitals.
"In two years, we plan to bring 50
EU companies here to explore the technology and have business matching
with the local firms," he told a press conference at the EU-Malaysia
Biomass Stakeholders Forum in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Biomass-SP project is sponsored by the EU with a total allocation of RM9
million for the next four years.
At present, Malaysia is
producing a minimum of 168 million tonnes of biomass products like
timber and oil palm waste; rice husks; coconut trunk fibres; municipal
waste and sugar cane waste.
Earlier, in his speech, Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation
Minister Fadillah Yusof said that Malaysia wants to become a net energy
importer by 2020.
He said the ministry has taken the necessary
steps to develop a renewable energy technology in five focused areas
such as biomass, solar, wind, micro-hydro and tidal power.
"The
use of renewable energy plays an increasing role in meeting the
requirements of our energy security and the effects of climate change
due to the greenhouse gas emission," he said.
Source : Business
Times
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