KUCHING: Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn Bhd have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a bamboo plantation and community programmes in the state.
According to a statement issued today, with the MoU, the two parties intended to establish a technical team to look into establishing a bamboo plantation to produce green bamboo for charcoal.
The MoU also entails establishing collaboration with the community for bamboo contract farming and processing; producing bamboo-based handicrafts products; and providing skills training to enhance the local community in the production of bamboo products.
As such, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan who witnessed the signing of the MoU on Thursday (Dec 22) in Tokyo, Japan expressed his hope that both parties would be able to have fruitful collaborations.
Adding on, he also thanked Asia Mineral Limited for investing in Pertama Ferroalloy in Samalaju Industrial Park and commended the new expansion of Pertama Ferroalloy which would incorporate more green resources into the manufacturing process.
Earlier, the International Trade, Industry and Investment Minister had also met with Sumitomo Corporation.
The corporation stated that it was exploring investment opportunities in Sarawak by leveraging the green hydropower from the state to produce green fuel and in turn manufacture green products.
As such, Awang Tengah informed that such investments were welcomed as they are in line with Sarawak’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy, adding that the state government would facilitate the matter.
For the record, Sumitomo Corporation has a presence in Sarawak through involvement in other projects and is familiar with the comparative advantages that Sarawak has to offer.
Following this, the Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development also met with TG2/Wilhelmina Energy chief operating officer David Hiel on the same day.
It is said that TG2 is partnering with Idemitsu Corporation and intends to manufacture black pellets for green fuel.
Hence, Awang Tengah advised the company to work together with STIDC to tap the potential of using empty fruit bunches for black pellet production in Sarawak.
Following that, he also met with the senior management of Japan Exploration Corporation Ltd (JAPEX).
As JAPEX is exploring carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Sarawak, he hoped that the company could also work together with Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) on the project.
“CCS projects are important in the decarbonisation efforts being undertaken by governments all over the world, and Sarawak has the potential to provide such investment opportunities to global investors,” he said.
