by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We hear from Australia and Malaysia that PETRONAS Chemicals Group and Leaf Resources inked a Memorandum of Understanding for Leaf’s proposed biorefinery project in Malaysia.
In prospect? A study of chemical markets and commercially ready bio-technologies. Potential outcome? An offtake agreement for the fermentable sugars produced at the proposed Leaf facility in Segamat Johor Malaysia on terms mutually agreed by the parties and consistent with global project finance standards.
Leaf’s Malaysian biorefinery project
Leaf continues to make progress on its proposal to develop a biorefinery incorporating its proprietary Glycell technology at Segamat, Johor in Malaysia. In February, Leaf announced it had executed a two-year option on land at Segamat. This site is highly suited to Leaf’s proposed biorefinery, given its ready access to empty fruit bunch waste from the palm oil industry which will be processed to produce industrial sugars, glycerol and lignin.
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Demonstration in the Netherlands
Next steps? Not much definitive towards project finance until Leaf’s integrated demonstration now underway in the Netherlands reaches the 1,000 operating hour mark with its phase 2 and 3 demonstrations. Phase 2 is underway. These validate the company’s Glycell process for producing industrial sugars and wiill provide the engineering data for the commercial-scale refinery. Phase 3 picks up in September. More on that here.
A development of note back in Australia
Leaf, as many know, is an Australian technology — and Queensland Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick tipped that Leaf is advancing plans to develop a bio-manufacturing hub in a sugar-cane producing region of Queensland. The Queensland Labor government is in strong support as a part of its biobased state development strategy. READ MORE