China and Malaysia Partner on Biofuel R&D
31 August 2006
The Star. China has joined Malaysia in a bilateral research and development partnership to further develop biofuel and biomass production technologies.
The Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and the Department of High-Tech Development and Industrialization of China’s Ministry of Science and Technology have entered into a memorandum of understanding aimed at exploring new biomass technologies.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin said a study would be conducted to set out the scope of cooperation and the possible joint R&D projects relevant to biofuel and biomass technologies.
Chin said he was confident that the collaboration would augur well for the development of biomass as a new source of growth, especially for Malaysia as its vast oil palm plantations generated a high volume of biomass annually.
Chin said the collaboration was significant as Malaysia was now embarking on the commercialization of biofuel. “As you are aware, the development of biofuel is not necessarily confined to the production of biodiesel only. It also includes bioethanol, which could be potentially harnessed from palm-based biomass,” he added.
And all those palm oil plantations aren't chopping down precious rainforest at all now are they?
Oh dear. Bio fuel as biosphere damage solution.....
Posted by: Ruaraidh | 31 August 2006 at 03:28 AM
This deal with only hasten the destruction of the rain forest. China will do anything to keep their economic growth going, including destroying much of the planet. But then, why should they be any different than the U.S. or the rest of the world.
Posted by: t | 31 August 2006 at 08:56 AM
Oh my.
Posted by: earl | 31 August 2006 at 11:29 AM