Malaysia’s Sabah state demonstrates jatropha biodiesel in Toyota Land Cruiser; $300 million investment possible for US, Japan, South Korea export market

In Malaysia, the Sabah Land Development Board (SLDB) demonstrated jatropha biodiesel in a Toyota Land Cruiser trial conducted at the Sabah Development Corridor Expo. The SLDB has proposed expansion of jatropha capacity in Malaysia as a poverty-reduction program, saying that farmers could earn RM 1500 per month from farming 6-acre plots of jatropha curcus, from seedlings provided by Borneo Alam Ria Biomatrix.

The SLDB general manager said that Nihon Biotech, Kelana Stabil and TKM Resources have indicated that they would invest up to RM 300 million in jatropha cultivation and would purchase the fuel for export to the US, Japan and South Korea.

Sabah also announced this month that it would seek $304 million over 18 years from the Federal Government to assist in the development of its Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) in Lahad Datu.

Sabah has also been actively promoting a biodiversity bank project. Last year, New Forests and the Sabah state government agreed on the establishment of a conservation bank for the region. Under the agreement, palm oil producers will purchase biodiversity credits from the group in return for the right to expand their production.In turn, the bank will invest those credits in biodiversity projects and plantations, The immediate beneficiary is the 34,000 hectare Malua Forest Reserve, home to several endangered species including orangutans.