By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 28: Sarawak’s wood pellets production increased by 130 per cent from 35,522 metric tonnes in 2022 to 81,800 metric tonnes in 2023.
According to a statement, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the main importers for the product are Japan, France and South Korea.
“Additionally, this product also has great potential for green energy generation in line with Sarawak government’s aspirations to empower Sarawak’s Green Energy Policy,” he said when attending Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and its subsidiaries companies’ annual donation handover ceremony at Wisma Sumber Alam here today.
Meanwhile, Awang Tengah who is Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development and Minister of International Trade, Industry and Investment, urged timber industry players to adopt Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) technology emphasising automation and digital technology in order to be more competitive in local and global markets.
He said, STIDC had developed the Engineered Wood Product Blueprint as a guideline and to give direction to the development of the engineered wood industry in Sarawak.
“It is high time that the timber industry embarks on transformational change to stay relevant and competitive in the global market.
“The timber industry is urged to move away from its traditional way of doing things into production of high value-added products like engineered wood products, panel products, and bamboo.
“The timber industry must intensify the utilisation of timber from planted forests and create more innovative ideas in utilising available resources from planted forests, bamboo, rubberwood and biomass to create new growth for the timber industry in Sarawak,” he added.
During the ceremony, Awang Tengah presented a total of RM377,000 in contributions to 65 welfare, charitable, religious and educational organisations to carry out their activities in helping the needy. — DayakDaily
