The oil palm industry in Malaysia generates more than 1.3 million tonnes of oil palm trunks (OPT), 8.0 million tonnes of pruned and felled fronds (OPF), and 2.4 million tonnes of empty fruit brunches (EFB). These massive quantities of OPT, OPF and EFB are the biomass components available from replanting, and also through routine field and mill operations. It is estimated that 76, 000 hectares of matured palms will undergo replanting every year. The present use of oil palm biomass is still in the agriculture sector. The EFB is incinerated and the resulting ash is returned to the field as fertilizer. Some of the whole EFB, together with OPT and OPF are also being used directly as sources of organic fertilizer on decomposition. However, some higher value commercial outlets need to be made available to address the accumulation of these biomass within the industry.

Main Researcher: Kamaruddin, H