Senari Synergy signs MoU with NextBT for first Green Crude refinery in Asia

Senari Synergy group managing director Jefri Ahmad Tambi (front, left) is seen exchanging documents with NextBT CEO Michael Petras (front, right), witnessed by Awang Tengah (centre), Misnu Taha (back row, second left), Dr Hazland Abang Hipni (left) and other VIPs. — Photo by Kong Jun Liung

KUCHING: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Senari Synergy Sdn Bhd (Senari Synergy) and NextBT Group LLC (NextBT) for the proposed development of a Green Crude refining plant in Senari.

The event, witnessed by Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, second minister of resource planning and environment who is also the minister of industrial and entrepreneur development investment.

Datu Misnu Taha, deputy state secretary and the chairman of Senari Synergy noted that the proposed pyrolysis plant will have a production capacity of 132,000 metric tonnes of feedstock annually while the Green Crude upgrader can process 92,000 metric tonnes of pyrolysis oil per year.

Total investment for both plants are estimated to be at RM380 million. The plants are expected cover an area of circa 30 acres at Senari Synergy Industrial Complex at Jalan Bako.

“The proposed technology for this plant will be first of its kind in Asia. This will certainly put Sarawak in the world map as being one of the key proponents to implement an efficient waste management of the biomass.

“Adding to that, the investment is projected to generate an annual revenue of RM159 million,” said Misnu.

The company with MoUs signed this year has attracted a potential investment of approximately RM680 million as foreign direct investment.

Tengah enthused that this venture will generate both growth and employment opportunities for the state.

“The investment is expected to generate roughly 600 jobs during the construction period and 100 jobs when fully operational. The investment will also provide the spin off effect to the Senari Synergy existing oil and gas jetty where it will benefit through increase throughput volume and tariff.

“In addition, the eco system in the production of Green Crude from securing the supplies until the export of the final product will be able to create and nurture pool of local technological, logistical and trading personnel with expertise in the production and global distribution of a renewable fuel,” Tengah enthused.

The technology offers the chance to have better environmental impact that is aimed at the use of non-food feedstock while the investment is in line with global trends towards reducing the dependency on fossil fuels.

This signifies the increasing importance in the use of advanced biofuels to replace the existing fossil based fuel energy by many countries.