Malaysian biomass producer Rainbow Pellet Sdn Bhd has commissioned the world’s first commercial-scale Steam-Ex pellet plant, processing empty fruit bunches (EFBs) from oil palm at its facility in Kuala Lipis.
The plant uses steam explosion pretreatment technology supplied by Austrian engineering group ANDRITZ to convert EFBs, a low-value residual stream from palm oil processing, into advanced solid biofuels suitable for direct coal replacement. ANDRITZ also provided automation, system integration and startup support.
Paul Wong, executive director at Rainbow Pellet, said the plant “represents a decisive step” for the company and for the commercial-scale use of EFBs, adding that ANDRITZ’s involvement had been essential to bringing the project into operation.
Maximilian Lehr, technology manager at ANDRITZ, said the milestone demonstrated Steam-Ex technology’s potential to unlock value from underutilised biomass residues and provides a platform for future investment.
Rainbow Pellet, which is also active in forest plantations, says it aims to play a leading role in the regional bioenergy and bio-based materials market. The company indicated the Kuala Lipis plant is intended to serve as a foundation for broader technology rollout.
EFBs are generated in large volumes at palm oil mills across Southeast Asia and have historically gone underutilised. Converting them into pelletised solid biofuel offers a route to displacing coal in industrial energy applications while adding value to a residue stream that would otherwise have limited use.
Both companies described the startup as a significant milestone in the industrial-scale valorisation of agricultural residues.
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