Johor Plantations Group harnesses palm oil mill effluents for biomethane

In the heart of Malaysia’s palm oil belt, Johor Plantations Group Berhad (JPG) is converting challenges into profit. Bioenergy Insight learns more.

JPG is setting new benchmarks in the palm oil plantations industry by transforming palm oil mill effluents (POME) into biomethane.

The company said this represents a pioneering venture into commercial biomethane production, because it is championing a cleaner and more sustainable approach to the palm oil industry. It is developing new income streams from green activity that it estimates can generate more than RM 60 million (€12.7 million) over a five-year period from 2024 until 2028.

Changing the industry

POME is wastewater generated by palm oil extraction and purification activities that may become a major environmental pollutant if left untreated. Industry players are required to capture biogas from POME at their palm oil mills by installing mechanisms to trap the biogas in wastewater facilities, in line with the Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB)’s mandatory requirements to manage oil palm waste sustainably.

In Malaysia, this...