17/10/05 SERDANG, (Bernama) -- Golden Hope Plantation Bhd hopes to get a sizeable revenue from biodiesel in three to four years' time, with production starting in the next 12 to 15 months, said its group chief executive Datuk Sabri Ahmad.
"It is too early to tell. It should be sizeable revenue," he said at the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Golden Hope and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
Golden Hope was recently picked as one of the three joint venture partners of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB)'s biodiesel plants. The plant is said to be located in Banting.
"We will start operations next 12 to 15 months," he said, adding that plans were underway to ensure smooth operations of the biodiesel plant.
Biodiesel is seen as the next big thing in reducing global pollution level, as well as to counter the high price of conventional diesel and fuel due to rising crude oil prices.
Moreover, industrialised nations especially in Europe, are prepared to go "green" as they hurry to meet the Kyoto Protocol target, where they need to reduce the carbon dioxide emission to as low as the 1990 level.
"The market is ready and expanding," Sabri said, adding that cost-wise, palm oil was more competitive than its rival, rapeseed.
"We can market it as a speciality product, complete with the brand. This would not only bring revenue to the industry, but the country in general," he said.
Earlier, Sabri said the group would be hosting around 20 to 30 UPM students per intake at its Golden Hope Academy in Carey Island, to complete their agriculture diploma course with an option in plantation industry.
Golden Hope has spent around RM15 million to set up the facilities, and will spend around RM5,000 per student for their course there.
"It is a smart partnership between Golden Hope and UPM. We hope the new generation of graduates in plantation industries will bring new innovative ways of management to plantations," Sabri said.
He said undergraduates for the programme would be offered jobs with Golden Hope upon graduating, adding that more technologies and human capital were needed to increase plantation production.
-- BERNAMA
"It is too early to tell. It should be sizeable revenue," he said at the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Golden Hope and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
Golden Hope was recently picked as one of the three joint venture partners of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB)'s biodiesel plants. The plant is said to be located in Banting.
"We will start operations next 12 to 15 months," he said, adding that plans were underway to ensure smooth operations of the biodiesel plant.
Biodiesel is seen as the next big thing in reducing global pollution level, as well as to counter the high price of conventional diesel and fuel due to rising crude oil prices.
Moreover, industrialised nations especially in Europe, are prepared to go "green" as they hurry to meet the Kyoto Protocol target, where they need to reduce the carbon dioxide emission to as low as the 1990 level.
"The market is ready and expanding," Sabri said, adding that cost-wise, palm oil was more competitive than its rival, rapeseed.
"We can market it as a speciality product, complete with the brand. This would not only bring revenue to the industry, but the country in general," he said.
Earlier, Sabri said the group would be hosting around 20 to 30 UPM students per intake at its Golden Hope Academy in Carey Island, to complete their agriculture diploma course with an option in plantation industry.
Golden Hope has spent around RM15 million to set up the facilities, and will spend around RM5,000 per student for their course there.
"It is a smart partnership between Golden Hope and UPM. We hope the new generation of graduates in plantation industries will bring new innovative ways of management to plantations," Sabri said.
He said undergraduates for the programme would be offered jobs with Golden Hope upon graduating, adding that more technologies and human capital were needed to increase plantation production.
-- BERNAMA