Pertama Ferroalloys Repurposes Silico Manganese Slag in Promoting Sustainable Waste Management
Shah Alam, 28th August 2023 – Pertama Ferroalloys had taken a significant stride towards promoting sustainable practices by participating in the “Projek Pembangunan Untuk RMKE12: Kajian Kebolehlaksanaan Circular Economy Bagi Pengurusan Buangan Terjadual di Malaysia Bersama Agensi Teknikal dan Industri” event organized by the Department of Environment (DOE) Putrajaya which was held on the 28th of August 2023.
Mr. Morris Andom, Senior Manager of the Quality, Health, Safety, Security & Environment department at Pertama, delivered an insightful presentation on Pertama’s efforts in promoting the use of Silico Manganese Slag as a by-product in Circular Economy through the Special Management of Scheduled Waste.
The presentation underscored the fact that PFA’s silico manganese slag is proven to showcase no hazardous characteristics towards the environment or living organisms, aligning seamlessly with the stringent compliance of the Guideline for the Application of Special Management of Scheduled Waste. Through Special Management of Scheduled Waste, Pertama had managed to establish a remarkable framework for reusing and recycling silico manganese slag across diverse sectors including civil engineering, road construction, and agriculture.
This multifaceted approach not only resonates with the Department of Environment’s mission but also firmly supports Pertama’s commitment to the essential 3R’s concept: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The Department of Environment has shown their steadfast support towards Pertama’s efforts, which has been exemplified by the grant of ten (10) approvals of the initiatives.
The collaboration between Pertama and the University of Malaysia, Sarawak (UNIMAS) and other stakeholders, particularly the joint effort on constructing a 425-meter access road in Lubok Ria, demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing silico manganese slag as a material for road construction. The success of this collaboration had opened opportunities for internal projects including the application of silico manganese lag as road base material in projects such as the Open Yard 8 development and Pertama’s Temporary Car Park, and even as concrete and gabion.
Apart from utilizing silico manganese slag for construction use, Pertama had researched the use of silico manganese slag for agriculture, joining forces with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to explore the use of silico manganese slag as a soil amendment. The rigorous 3-year study on the usage revealed that the application of silico manganese slag could significantly enhance soil pH for peat soil, thereby improving nutrient retention in the soil and ultimately leading to higher crop production.
As of now, Pertama initiated a groundbreaking collaboration with the Sarawak Government to endorse silico manganese slag as a pioneering road construction material. This collaborative initiative commenced earlier this year, witnessed by the Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR), and prominent universities.
The recent Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak (MIPD) study trip to Japan which took place from July 31st, 2023 to August 6th, 2023, explored avenues for reusing slag as a formidable material for road construction, which was led by Deputy Premier YB Datuk Amar Douglas Unggah.
Pertama’s transformative approach to repurposing silico manganese slag underscores their dedication to creating a greener and more prosperous future, thus further committing to driving innovation in the field of sustainable waste management, hoping to set an inspiring example for the industry at large.
