Bamboo Plantation to be Developed in Samalaju
Credit Source: New Sarawak Tribune
Link to New Sarawak Tribune: Bamboo plantation to be developed in Samalaju – New Sarawak Tribune
BINTULU: More species of bamboo will be cultivated in the Samalaju area, where about 100 hectares of land have been identified for bamboo plantation.
This follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC), Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) and Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn Bhd on Wednesday.
The MoU aims to promote sustainability in the Samalaju Industrial Estate and secure a reliable source of raw materials for Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn Bhd via bamboo cultivation.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, who witnessed the MoU signing ceremony, said that Pertama Ferroalloys, a Japanese company, relied on coal as its primary heat source for alloy production.
“Now, they aim to transition from coal to bamboo pellets, specifically wood charcoal, for a more sustainable approach.
“So, they need about 3,000 hectares of bamboo plantation for that,” he said after witnessing the MoU exchange at Fairfield by Marriot Hotel.
STIDC was represented by its general manager Zainal Abidin Abdullah, Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn Bhd general manager Yuki Nakamura represented the company while BDA was represented by its general manager Datuk Mohamad Yakup Kari.
Meanwhile, Deputy Premier and Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said under the project, Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn Bhd needed to produce 60,000 green metric tons of bamboo to ensure sustainable supply of raw materials for energy generation for their mill operation.
“BDA has identified about 100 hectares of land within the Samalaju area for bamboo plantation, while Pertama Ferroalloys has around 40 hectares of land in the mill site for bamboo cultivation.
“I hope STIDC, BDA and the Resident Office would assist Pertama Ferroalloys to include the community to make this project successful,” he said in his text of speech which was read by Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh.
Meanwhile, Yuki Nakamura said that the MoU with STIDC and BDA is in line with the Sarawak government’s aspiration under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and to promote social inclusivity, environmental sustainability and economic prosperity for Sarawak.
“Pertama Ferroalloy will be one of biggest stakeholder of this bamboo plantation project.
“I believe our participation in this project will ensure that Sarawak will be recognised by the international market that they are producing high value-added bamboo products for several industries.
“Participation from local community in this project will also bring valuable long-term benefits to them,” he said.
The partnership between STIDC, BDA and Pertama Ferroalloys will invite additional quality investments to Sarawak from overseas, especially from Japan.
