Main pic caption: Samling Timber Sdn Bhd CEO Lawrence Chia (left) receiving the Sustainable Biomass Programme certification for TreeOne Megapellet Sdn Bhd from a representative of Control Union Certification at the recent Asia Carbon Conference 2023. Also witnessing the event is Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg (second from right).
THE Samling Group’s foray into the biomass arena only began four years ago but it has already become an important component of the group’s business, driven by zero-waste and renewable energy aspirations.
“Biomass is an alternative to fossil fuels, and this means it’s better for the environment. That’s important to us,” Samling’s CEO Lawrence Chia pointed out.
The group is seeking to achieve its target by working towards environmental sustainability and its timber activities help to provide such an opportunity.
Wood-based biomass is derived from trees that prior to their harvesting have absorbed carbon dioxide. The biomass is then turned into wood pellets to be used as a substitute for fossil fuels.
This reduces the need to burn fossil fuels which thus cut down on the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by fossil fuels into the environment.
In this regard, new trees are planted in place of those which have been harvested, hence creating a biomass-based circular economy that reduces the country’s dependency on burning fossil fuels.
As such, Chia expressed belief that biomass will play an important role in ensuring a more sustainable future for Malaysia.
With its sustainable operations, Samling is able to generate a consistent supply of residual wood resources from its forest plantations that can be used for its biomass production.
“The main question we wanted to answer is how we would be able to maximise these resources in the best possible way,” stressed Chia.
After an extensive research, Samling had in 2019 established its first wood pellet plant in Bintulu which boasts excellent port facilities that paves way for an easy export of wood pellets.
Today, Samling operates the 140,000-tonne a year TreeOne Megapellet plant and has shipped pellets to Japan and South Korea for used by independent power producers. The plant has obtained the Sustainable Biomass Programme certification which further allows Samling to export its pellets to Europe.
Chia said Samling’s biomass business complements the group’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda along with its policies of sustainable forest management (SFM) and achieving forest management certification, the last of which requires compliance with ESG elements that range widely from establishing and protecting areas that have High Conservation Value to ensuring the well-being of its work force.
“While we’re happy with our foray into biomass, we’re far from satisfied. We want to do more where biomass is concerned. Samling is committed to environmental sustainability and we’re just getting started,” added Chia. – April 17, 2023
