Biotech Updates

Malaysia Eyes Potential for Biomass-Based Industries

August 7, 2013

News article: http://themalaysianreserve.com/main/news/corporate-malaysia/4324-malaysia-to-have-regions-first-biomass-plant

News article: http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2013/08/02/Malaysia-eyes-regions-first-commercial-biomass-ethanol-plant.aspx


In Malaysia, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by Bintulu-based Hock Lee Group and international biotech company Beta Renewables seeking to conduct a feasibility study for a plant that will jumpstart a biomass-based industry cluster with a wide range of new industries like biofuels, bioenergy and biochemicals.

The feasibility study came as a result of the National Biomass Strategy 2020 initiatives by Agensi Inovasi Malaysia in its bid to position the country as the region's leader in biomass-based downstream activities.

The Hock Lee Group is a private Bintulu-based corporation with interests in property development, while Beta Renewables is an Italian-Danish-American joint venture that owns the patented PROESA technology for the conversion of non-food cellulosic biomass into ethanol.