The Housing and Local Government Ministry is looking to tap the mountains of plastic trash in the country as an alternative fuel and source for producing cement, it was recently reported.
The minister stated that the technology known as processed engineered fuel (PEF) could help the government cut down the illegal plastic garbage pile nationwide, adding that, currently, there is only one known company in the country using PEF.
An industry leader in the manufacture and supply of alternative fuel to the cement industry in Chemor has been using local plastic waste and imported dry materials such as plastic, papers, clothes and wood to process into PEF.
They argue that this mechanism will help to clear all illegal plastic companies and dumpsites in the country, as there is no other place to dispose of the waste or companies coming in to take over the operation at the moment.
It was also noted that the PEF, said to produce zero-waste, will be used as one of the materials to produce cement. This will increase the state economy and also produce a lot of job opportunities for the locals in the cement industry.
If all goes according to plan, the ministry is expected to clear all the 40 listed plastics companies and dumpsites, which are either issued stop-work order or sealed for operating illegally, within six to 12 months. The ministry has received another suggestion from a local company called The Asher, which used “pyrolysis plasma” technology to incinerate plastic junk.
It is a mobile unit which can be deployed to illegal plastic companies and dumpsites to burn all the waste. The technology only produces 4 per cent of waste upon burning, which can be used as fertiliser and as well as a material to produce bricks. Moreover, 50 units were already used in 13 countries so far.
It was noted that the ministry may consider using pyrolysis plasma for Malaysia is the technology clears the criteria and gets approval from the Environment Department.
An earlier report by OpenGov Asia noted that Malaysia will continue to advocate and strengthen maritime and oceanographic research for the sustainable South China Sea as many nations sharing the sea depend on its living and non-living natural resources for food, trade, transport, tourism and security.
It was noted that, unfortunately, the South China Sea is facing a plethora of threats from climate change, pollution and over-exploitation of its resources, including modifications of coastal and natural marine environments.
Therefore, the ministry will play its role in ensuring environmental sustainability which is pollution-free and resistant to the threats of climate change.
OpenGov Asia also reported that the Malaysian state of Kedah is inviting investors to develop more green technology-based projects in the state, especially those relating to solar power. The state’s Chief Minister said this would not only create more jobs but also establish many new business opportunities in terms of the handling, maintenance and installation of solar panels at commercial and residential premises.
The Chief Minister noted that the state government is also evaluating the entry of several new solar projects, seeing as similar solar projects are now becoming increasingly popular not only in Malaysia but around the world.
The Minister of Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment had said that the ministry would have a series of meetings to ensure the national grid is prepared to cater for this renewable energy generation mix, as well as to study the policies to meet its target.
The view is to capitalise on future technological innovations, including industrial revolution 4.0 elements while retaining customers’ confidence through the digitalisation of services and improving customer experiences.
Malaysia is evidently working to push for more environmentally-conscious initiatives and technology in an effort to curb carbon emissions and move towards a move sustainable future.
