| The plant will use mostly oils of European origin, namely rapeseed oil and soyabean oil, and palm oil from MalaysiaGolden Hope Plantations Bhd expects its biodiesel plant in Rotterdam, Holland, to be completed and started up by year-end.”The plant, with estimated investments of between US$30 million and US$40 million (RM104 million and RM138 million), will use mostly oils of European origin, namely rapeseed oil and soyabean oil, and palm oil from Malaysia,” chief executive officer Datuk Sabri Ahmad told Business Times in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands recently.The demand in Europe is estimated to touch 12 million tonnes in 2010.The project, which is located in Unimills BV, a member of the group, will begin producing 200,000 tonnes per annum under Golden Hope’s other company called Clean Energy.In Europe where mainly rapeseed oil is used for biodiesel, the total throughput time is between three and five hours.It is also seeking strategic partners to market its biodiesel products which are expected to come on-stream this year.
With margins being good for the palm oil producers from the strength of crude palm oil (CPO) prices hovering at around RM2,800 per tonne, it has become more challenging for companies like Golden Hope to go into the production of biodiesel.
It is eyeing the European Union and US markets as well as those in Japan and South Korea.
Golden Hope’s first biodiesel plant at Teluk Panglima Garang, Banting which is operated by its subsidiary Rubiatec Sdn Bhd, began its maiden commercial production in June last year.
Its second plant, a joint venture between Golden Hope and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board is located on Carey Island and has started operations last month.
Apart from the biodiesel plant in the Netherlands, Golden Hope also plans to build another in Bintulu Sarawak.
It has been estimated that when all four plants are operational by early 2008, Golden Hope will be producing a total of 390,000 tonnes of biodiesel a year, all of which will be exported.
“With globalisation, palm oil producers also need to go beyond the commodity and in the case of Golden Hope, we have repositioned ourselves as lifestyle solution providers for food manufacturers,” added Sabri.
The company’s regional director EMEA Jan van Driel described palm oil as an important ingredient for Unimills and its customers who are looking towards trans fatty acid-free oil.
Unimills, which became a member of the Golden Hope Plantations in 2002, has subsidiaries across the world supplying to companies like Nestle, Unilever and Danone.
“About 44.4 per cent of our applications are in margarine, with the rest in other forms such as snacks, bakery, dairy, frying and confectionery,” he said, adding that the bulk of the food activities are in Europe with the remaining 10 per cent to Russia and North Africa. |
