The Basic Gateway to ICT Solutions Mr. Michael Fun, the Chief Executive of Basic Gateway, talks about how his company is working towards enhancing ICT security and network connectivity through strategic partnerships.
19th November 2009, Perdana Ballroom, Putrajaya International Convention Center, Putrajaya.
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World in Brief
CPO prices weigh on biodiesel in Malaysia
The rising costs of crude palm oil (CPO) has been largely seen as a positive trend by most parties in Malaysia with the important exception of one - the palm oil biodiesel industry. With CPO prices rising to above RM2,000 per tonne, many biodiesel plants are finding feedstock prices rising and cutting into their profit margins. This has resulted in plants drastically cutting production, although to date no plant has had to cease operations.
Furthermore, although the Malaysian government has stated that around 500,000 tonnes of biodiesel would be needed once the B5 programme comes fully on-stream in 2010, so far take-up has been quite slow. Critics have claimed that the government's inaction on solving certain problems such as that of financing, logistics, and infrastructure costs has hampered efforts.
The decline in the biofuels industry however is not just limited to Malaysia alone. Around the world, the economic downturn and the subsequent reduction of the prices of fossil fuels such as oil and gas have led to those two regaining acceptance and popularity. While the biofuels hype came about in mid 2008 when crude oil reached more than US$120 per barrel, the initiative has lost its momentum following the sharp decline in oil prices.
Malaysia to produce sago palm-based bioethanol
In a milestone for biotechnology development Southeast Asia, Malaysia is to produce bioethanol from sago palm beginning early next year. According to Prof Dr Kopli Bujang of the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), (Dr. Bujang is the leader of research on bioethanol as an environmentally-friendly fuel alternative to petroleum), the bioethanol plant in Unimas is to start operating in December 2009.
He said that the Unimas bioethanol plant is capable of producing 1,000 litres of the product daily and added that the main advantage of bioethanol is that, in addition to being friendly on the environment, the fuel is more akin to a petroleum addictive and thus does not require an overhaul of the vehicle's engine or carburetor to use it. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is to award an RM11.6m grant from its Techno Fund to the Unimas plant.
Algae-based ethanol pilot project collaboration
USA: The Dow Chemical Company will partner Florida-based Algenol Biofuels Incorporated to produce ethanol at a biorefinery to be built in Freeport, Texas, with a nearby Dow manufacturing facility providing carbon dioxide that is to be used by the biorefinery.
Besides carbon dioxide, the carbon-to-ethanol transformation process utilises saltwater, sunlight, and non-arable land for ethanol production. With 24 acres slated for ethanol production, the process can produce 6,000 gallons of ethanol per acre of land. Having applied for US$25m stimulus funds to cover half the costs of the project, Dow expects the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to announce the awards between September and December.
The funding is divided into three phases: final plans and permitting, construction and operation. According to Algenol CEO Paul Woods, the engineering work is complete and the companies would pursue "a timeline as accelerated as they would allow." Besides supplying carbon dioxide from its manufacturing plant, Dow will develop advanced materials and specialty films for the bioreactors. It is estimated by Woods that the pilot project would operate for four to five years.
World in Brief