(Kuching, 20th) Local enterprises and individuals in Sarawak are invited to partake in the microalgae industry, which the Sarawak government is actively developing.
Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Hazland, indicated that those interested can engage in three areas of the industry, namely the cultivation and harvesting of microalgae, the production of crude algae oil, and the development of algal biomass for various products such as animal feed, nutritional supplements, and pharmaceuticals.
“However, it is crucial to emphasize that the appropriate economic scale of project investment is essential for its feasibility and sustainability.”
Hazland responded to this issue during a Q&A session in the Sarawak assembly today.
He further stated that the Energy Company under the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation is also researching and exploring other suitable sources to produce sustainable aviation fuel.
“Alternative sources include waste cooking oil, seaweed, agricultural waste, and biomass.”
He added that Sarawak’s microalgae project faces several challenges, such as climate change and high investment, because it requires high-tech solutions like artificial intelligence sensors to replace manual labor for producing high-quality algae.
“Another challenge is increasing production or ‘scaling up’ to meet the global demand for bio-based raw materials or biomass raw materials.
He mentioned that potentially affected variables include sunlight intensity, water pH value, temperature, concentration, carbon dioxide, water turbulence, nutrients in the water, and water salinity.
Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Hazland, indicated that those interested can engage in three areas of the industry, namely the cultivation and harvesting of microalgae, the production of crude algae oil, and the development of algal biomass for various products such as animal feed, nutritional supplements, and pharmaceuticals.
“However, it is crucial to emphasize that the appropriate economic scale of project investment is essential for its feasibility and sustainability.”
Hazland responded to this issue during a Q&A session in the Sarawak assembly today.
He further stated that the Energy Company under the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation is also researching and exploring other suitable sources to produce sustainable aviation fuel.
“Alternative sources include waste cooking oil, seaweed, agricultural waste, and biomass.”
He added that Sarawak’s microalgae project faces several challenges, such as climate change and high investment, because it requires high-tech solutions like artificial intelligence sensors to replace manual labor for producing high-quality algae.
“Another challenge is increasing production or ‘scaling up’ to meet the global demand for bio-based raw materials or biomass raw materials.
He mentioned that potentially affected variables include sunlight intensity, water pH value, temperature, concentration, carbon dioxide, water turbulence, nutrients in the water, and water salinity.