Malaysian Company Claims 6.48 Billion Liter Ethanol Output in 2009
10 April 2007
Bernama. Pioneer Bio Industries Corp Sdn Bhd (PBIC) claims it will be able to produce 6.48 billion litres (1.7 billion gallons US) of nipah palm ethanol yearly when its planned refineries there begin operations in 2009.
That level of production is an increase from the company’s earlier projection of 1.22 billion gallons. (Earlier post.)
Nipah palm ethanol is produced by the fermentation of the sap from nipah palm trees (Nypa fruiticans). Chairman Md Badrul Shah Mohd Noor said the Perak state government has awarded the company the rights to harvest nipah sap on 10,000 hectares of land, for which it has to pay RM324 million (US$94 million) yearly.
Nipah has a very high sugar-rich sap yield. According to one study (Hamilton and Murphy 1988), nipah sap can produce 6,480-15,600 liters of ethanol per hectare, compared to 3,350-6,700 liters/hectare from sugarcane.
PBIC, a subsidiary of Pioneer Vaccination Biotech Corp Sdn Bhd, holds the patent to produce ethanol from nipah palm sap. Md Badrul Shah said the company will sign a multi-billion dollar contract with a major international company in July to supply nipah-based ethanol over a five-year period.
No mention of environmental impact. In light of the recent Palm Oil study, you'd think someone would address that issue.
Posted by: John F. | 12 April 2007 at 04:15 AM
I rejoice over this news. To know that Nypa can be so useful if properly harness is a great discovery. Why do I say this I come from an environment that is proliferated by Nypa along the whole coast line (Akwa Ibom- Cross River State of Nigeria). Can something be done about Nypa utilization in this area also?
Please I wish to request for further materials and information on Nypa from you.
Yours sincerely,
Edet Akpan
Posted by: Edet Akpan | 02 August 2007 at 06:55 AM
I AM EQUALLY HAPPY ABOUT THE DISCOVERY. LAST YEAR I WAS ON THE MINISTERIAL DELEGATION FROM NIGERIA TO THAILAND TO STUDY THEIR UTILIZATION OF THE NYPA. IT WAS QUITE REVEALING. MALAYSIA SHOULD BE WILLING TO WORK WITH US IN AKWA IBOM STATE TO PRODUCE ETHANOL FROM THIS GOD-GIVEN PLANT.
I WILL ALSO LIKE EDET AKPAN AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES TO CONTACT ME ON [email protected] URGENTLY.
Posted by: HENRY ETUK | 20 September 2007 at 07:11 AM
It is with grat excitment that i read your aricles on ethanol production from he Nypa palm.
I am from rivers state of nigeria in nthe niger delta region where the Nypa is regarded as a menace however with information from your website i can say it now a blessing since this palm is regarded as a pest.
I would like to have more information on companies that have the technology for ethanol production and also some more relevant information on how to harness this wonderful asset.
ADOKIYE AMACHREE
PORT HARCOURT
Posted by: ADOKIYE AMACHREE | 11 April 2008 at 03:03 AM