BINTULU: OM Materials Sarawak Sdn Bhd (OM Sarawak) and Saremas Sdn Bhd (Saremas), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wilmar Plantations Sdn Bhd, signed a sale of goods agreement last week to promote sustainability and innovation in waste management.
The agreement will see the delivery of up to 120,000 metric tons of OM Sarawak’s SilicoManganese (SiMn) slag to Saremas, highlighting a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and the circular economy.
The SiMn slag will be used as a sustainable alternative to virgin rocks for the construction and maintenance of roads in Saremas’ plantation.
OM Sarawak director Mustapha Ismuni thanked the Department of Environment (DoE) for its support and approval of the Special Waste Management Permit, a key and crucial step in enabling and making the collaboration possible.
“Their guidance and support have been instrumental in advancing this initiative,” he said, adding that the roots of the collaboration can be traced back to 2022 when representatives from both companies met at a sustainability forum in Samalaju.
“Since then, both companies have been working diligently to ensure the safety and environmental compliance of SiMn slag for road construction use, with extensive testing by reputable laboratories like SIRIM and Chemsains,” he said.
Mustapha said OM Sarawak is dedicated to sustainability and the SiMn slag offers a sustainable alternative to virgin rocks, thereby promoting environmental preservation and reducing reliance on natural resources.
“Over the past decade, the company has consistently demonstrated its commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.
“The collaboration with Saremas represents a significant step towards a greener economy, aligning with Sarawak State Government’s vision for sustainable development,” he said.
He added that Saremas’ cooperation and patience during the slag trial period and the construction of a 2-km road using the SiMn slag on its plantation have been commendable.
“We look forward to closely working with Saremas, exploring further areas of collaboration that will yield positive environmental impacts,” he said.
