SALCRA Palm Oil Mills sees green
Companies around the world are adopting sustainable practices to help in the fight to save our planet. And it is heartening to see Sarawak establishments like SALCRA Palm Oil Mills jumping on the “green bandwagon” and incorporating greening initiatives as part of their business practices.
SALCRA Palm Oil Mills is a subsidiary of SALCRA (Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority). It operates five Palm Oil Mills (POM), namely LAPOM 1 (Lubok Antu Palm Oil Mill 1), LAPOM 2 (Lubok Antu Palm Oil Mill 2),
SAPOM (Saratok Palm Oil Mill), SEPOM (Serian Palm Oil Mill), and BAPOM (Bau Palm Oil Mill). These mills are where fresh fruit bunches (FFB) are processed into crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel (PK).
SALCRA Palm Oil Mills also offers additional services to its suppliers such as providing FFB collection centres and FFB transportation assistance, convenient payment methods for sale of FFB, sale of fertilisers at its mills with payment via contra method, and providing agronomic advice to its smallholders.
Together, the mills have a combined capacity of 270 metric tonnes per hour (mt/h). That’s an impressive number. But what’s more impressive is that they are able to pull that off while keeping to green practices. In fact, for its best practices SALCRA Palm Oil Mills has earned awards and accolades including Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO), ISO 14001:2005 (Environmental Management System), as well as Merit Award and Winner’s Certificate at the 7th Sarawak Chief Minister’s Environmental Award 2010 (Large Enterprise Category – Manufacturing).
Eco-friendly
Just as they emphasise on top-notch quality products, SALCRA Palm Oil Mills also is also big on sustainability and zero waste. The company has implemented several waste management projects, such as the Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP), which controls air pollution by removing impurities from gas using electric charge before it goes into the air.
Another project is the Eco Mat Plant, which is fibre mat made from empty fruit bunches. It keeps weed at bay, has moisture retaining properties and is used for slow release of fertiliser.
Their Methane Trapping Plant was set up to capture methane generated from palm oil mill effluent (POME), which can be used for heating, fuel, and power generation.
Meanwhile, SALCRA Palm Oil Mills also manages wastewater generated from palm oil milling activities (POME) quite effectively. Regular monitoring and maintenance of its effluent ponds and effluent treatment plant ensure that these effluents are properly treated and discharged within the minimum Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) level below 20 part per million (ppm).
Who would have known that, by just looking at these mills with the naked eye, that they are going above and beyond in making sure that they get business done and yet still ensure that the environment is looked after. Kudos to SALCRA Palm Oil Mills!
