Editor’s note: Content corrected to reflect that this potential collaboration involves researching opportunities to utilise bamboo in Sakura’s furnaces as a sustainable aviation fuel source and not as initially stated.
By Yee Mei
BINTULU, March 5: The Sarawak government is keen on working with Sakura Ferroalloys (Sakura) to explore the feasibility of utilising bamboo as a feedstock for smelting in furnaces as another alternative for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Sakura could work with Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) and proposed the allocation of an area for them to develop a large-scale bamboo plantation for this venture.
“I think this (bamboo) presents an alternative source given our energy transition efforts. Bamboo is renewable, and we can grow bamboo locally,” he said during Sakura Ferroalloys’ 10th anniversary dinner in Bintulu on March 5, 2024.
Additionally, Sakura is investigating the feasibility of converting its waste off gas, which primarily composed of carbon monoxide, into ethanol and SAF.
Abang Johari highlighted the current low supply of SAF, standing at only one percent, with intentions to migrate it higher up.
“If that is the case, the market is there even though Neste at the moment is producing SAF from used cooking oil, and in Singapore, they’re using used cooking oil, but in Sarawak, we have the potential because we have enough rain and the bamboo can grow,” he said.
While Sarawak is currently exploring the usage of mircoalgae for SAF, he emphasised that incorporating bamboo as feedstock source could enhance the capability to supply SAF to airlines.
At the same time, Abang Johari also mentioned the potential of liquid ammonia as fertiliser, which would be beneficial as Sarawak produces rice.
“Perhaps we need the fertiliser, so everything is domestically supplied, and you are also able to produce other products,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Sakura Ferroalloys chairman Tiaan van Aswegen said earlier in his speech that Sakura is also well positioned for the future and has the following plans for diversification and growth, which include studies to produce byproducts from current waste streams such as slag, fumes, and gas are being pursued.
In his speech, he said Sakura was designed to be environmentally friendly and to have a light environmental footprint, along with a world-class furnace gas cleaning plant with emissions below statutory and legal limits.
“Due to the use of electricity from a hydroelectricity-based grid, Sakura is considered to be amongst the Ferro-manganese producers with the lowest carbon footprint. This positions the plant very well in a future carbon neutral world and we expect to take advantage of that,” he said.
The event also saw Abang Johari dotting the second eye of a Daruma doll — a Japanese doll whereby one paints one eye as a wish and paints the other eye as soon the wish comes true — to symbolise what Sakura has achieved in 10 years. — DayakDaily
