Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster is ready to tap the sector, and the next step to take is to work on its implementation despite the huge capital investment required.
He said Sabah has the natural resources needed to develop biofuel and biodiesel, and the Japanese company – Euglena Corporation Limited based in Yokohama, Japan, can help to kick-start the industry.Shafie said the company, which is among the best in this field, could help Sabah tap new biofuel sources and maximise the use of palm oil in the state.
"If the investment and cooperation work, we expect to see a RM2bil worth of investment potential in the long run," he said. He said the owner of Euglena, Mitsuru Izumo, had agreed to bring a delegation of experts to Sabah and see for themselves what can be achieved.Izumo said they were eager to embark on this new investment opportunity and would be coming to Sabah soon.
Euglena is the pioneer for Japan's biofuel and biodiesel industry, producing eco-friendly fuel for cars and jets, and enzymes for food production using palm oil and algae-based resources.