KUCHING: Sales of the components of algae biomass namely lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates could potentially generate economic value of RM2 billion to RM3 billion per year.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said based on the preliminary estimates of the pilot facility at the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC), an investment into a 2,000-hectare commercial plant can produce up to 140,000 tons of algae biomass annually.
“Depending on the technology used, some research shows that algae biomass of 350 tons per year can be generated from a five-hectare site that can be processed into 87 tons of lipids capable of producing about 45 tons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
“At the same time, this amount of biomass can also produce 192 tons of protein and 52 tons of carbohydrate. Moreover, some microalgae are also reported to have anti-cancer properties that are important in the treatment of cancerous tumours.
“As such, microalgae have huge potential in the production of sustainable fuel for the aircraft industry, in food production and in therapeutics,” he said during the official launch of CHITOSE Carbon Capture Central Sarawak at Sejingkat Power Corporation today.
On the newly launched facility, Abang Johari said the five-hectare site will serve as a good example of managing carbon in a circular economy while gathering data to enhance the technology and scale it up to 100 hectares and expand it to 2,000 hectares in the future if it is commercially viable.
He said microalgae have an emerging industry in a nascent environment where ideas still need to be improved.
“Using the average value of USD6.50 per ton of carbon credit, this could potentially generate USD1.3 million per year in revenue for a facility of this size. “With a 2,000-hectare facility, we can also create up to 5,000 new job opportunities and decarbonise about 200,000 tons of carbon annually,” he said.
