Circular and Sustainable Practices of a Palm Oil Processing Complex

The palm oil processing complex in Sandakan, Sabah, is an integrated complex housing various plants. This include refineries, fractionation plants, kernel crushing plants along with raw water treatment, as well as a biomass cogeneration plant and an effluent treatment plant. There are various synergies in locating the plants together with opportunities for sharing and reducing utility consumption. The complex has a very active Energy Management Committee that meets bi-monthly to monitor ongoing projects, review completed projects, and brainstorm new energy-saving initiatives. The team has won several National Energy Awards (Malaysia) and also won at the ASEAN level as evidence of their positive efforts at reducing energy consumption. Several heat recovery and energy reduction projects have been implemented to reduce energy consumption and lower the greenhouse gas emission for the complex. A biomass boiler was recently installed to generate steam and power using waste from palm oil mills and to reduce greenhouse gas emission. Effluent water is treated and fully utilized within the complex. Waste heat from condensate water is recovered for lower temperature heating applications. Circularity of materials within the supply chain is practiced leaving the refining complex with no waste material to be disposed of.