Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Forestry Development Authority (Safoda) will venture into renewable energy by conducting a pilot bamboo planting project in Kota Belud to produce bio-pellets, an environmentally friendly alternative fuel.

Safoda signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nova Glove Consultancy Sdn Bhd and Greenova Solutions Sdn Bhd, recently, to explore potential opportunities related to bamboo-based biomass development in Sabah, through a trial cultivation of a high density bamboo species from India.

The MOU establishes a preliminary and non-binding framework for the parties to jointly assess the commercial viability and practical considerations of a potential large scale bamboo plantation initiative using “Bambusa Beecheyana” species, a type of high biomass yield bamboo species, including its suitability for biomass pellet production.

Following the signing of the MoU, Safoda General Manager, Datuk Bahrul Razha Chuprat, said Safoda had taken its first step to explore large-scale bamboo biomass venture by starting a trial planting phase of the high quality bamboo on a small plot in Ulu Kukut, Kota Belud.

He said the six-month pilot project starting this March aims to assess soil suitability and bamboo yield before moving on to the construction phase of a bio-pellet processing plant.

He said the trial serves as a proof of concept before moving into larger-scale development.

“This is strictly a planting trial to demonstrate feasibility and viability including to check on the soil suitability to planting this high density Bamboo species from India on the small plot under local conditions.

“Once we obtain the results and management approval, we will proceed to the next phase, which includes building a bio-pellet processing factory,” he said this to reporters after the signing ceremony of the MoU between Safoda and the two private firms at Wisma Perkasa here.

Safoda was represented by its Chairman Datuk Hamild @Hamid bin Awang and its General Manager Datuk Bahrul Razha Chuprat while Nove Glove Consultancy Sdn Bhd was represented by its Managing Director Datuk Sr Supramaniam Shanmugan while Greenova Solutions Sdn Bhd was represented by its Director Emmanuel Sathiaraj Jeyamurugesan.

As part of the initial evaluation, Bahrul said Safoda would provide temporary access to a small trial area in Kota Belud to facilitate site assessments and a pilot bamboo planting exercise. 

He said the two companies would undertake the pilot planting and related assessments at their own cost, including the engagement of independent parties to review and validate the outcomes. 

“If the pilot proves technically and commercially viable, the project could expand to a bamboo plantation of up to 10,000 hectares in Kota Belud to support the production of biomass bamboo pellets.

“The assessment will include third-party verification before Safoda decides whether to proceed with a joint venture to build a bio-pellet processing plant.

 “If successful over the next three to four years which is also the harvesting period for the bamboo, the project could expand into the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) using bamboo-based bioethanol technology,” he said.

Bahrul said bamboo bio-pellets are seen as a potential replacement for coal in electricity generation, particularly for export markets such as South Korea and Japan, which are increasingly shifting towards greener energy sources.

He said bio-pellets could replace coal in thermal power plants and may be used as a renewable energy source for industrial boilers in the State to emulate several countries like Japan that are transitioning to cleaner fuels.

“Bamboo has a higher calorific and high carbon value compared to ordinary wood, making it highly suitable for biomass energy production.

“The advantage of planting bamboo is that no replanting is needed after harvesting as it grow on its own that can last up to 50 or 60 years compared to planting timber trees which take about 15 years before it could be harvested and need to be replanted.

“Consequently, many investors are not keen to invest in our timber trees plantation due to long harvesting cycle period of over a decade,” he said, adding that bamboo only takes three to four years before it could be harvested

In addition, Bahrul said venturing into bamboo plantation is an initiative falls under Safoda’s Industrial Tree Planting (ITP) programme and aligns with its mandate to promote downstream activities and value-added forest-based industries in Sabah.

https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/275135/bamboo-planting-project-for-bio-pellets-in-kota-belud