Bioeconomy Corp Drives Green Growth With Cross-Border Collaboration At Expo 2025 Osaka
KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation) is developing an integrated ecosystem that bridges innovation and sustainability, strengthens rural economies, and elevates Malaysia’s position as a regional frontrunner in green development.
This commitment is reflected in a cross-border joint venture between a Malaysian renewable energy company and a Japanese conglomerate, showcased at Expo 2025 Osaka.
Chief executive officer Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak said the collaboration, supported by Bioeconomy Corporation, focuses on the commercial-scale production of biomethane and biomethanol, using palm oil waste as a feedstock.
He said this partnership reflects the growing international confidence in Malaysia’s bio-based economy and demonstrates effective technology transfer and clean energy innovation through strategic collaboration and strong investor interest in the country’s bioeconomy development framework.
“Through engagements at Expo 2025 Osaka, Bioeconomy Corporation successfully translated global dialogue into industrial application, further positioning Malaysia as a trusted partner in sustainable innovation,” he said in a statement.
Mohd Khairul Fidzal said one of the most impactful developments in Malaysia’s bioeconomy is the scaling of biomethane, a renewable energy source produced from palm oil mill effluent and other organic waste.
He said that with Malaysia being the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, commercialising biomethane across the plantation sector is vital for unlocking both environmental and economic value.
Biomethane is a cleaner, carbon-neutral fuel compared to coal or oil. In Malaysia, biomethane has been used since 2011 as a renewable energy source under the Feed-in Tariff programme led by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia.
“This early move supports the goals of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which aims for renewable energy, like biomethane, to make up 70 per cent of the country’s energy capacity by 2050.
“This shift reflects Malaysia’s commitment to cleaner, more sustainable energy in line with global demand,” Mohd Khairul Fidzal said.
Furthermore, he said biomethane offers exciting opportunities -- it can be turned into gas for vehicles or injected into existing pipelines, as recently done by Gas Malaysia.
It can also be liquefied for easier storage and transport, with plans underway to make Malaysia a hub for this fuel.
Biomethane can even help power planes and ships with greener alternatives.
It has been estimated that ASEAN’s natural resources could produce enough sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2050 to meet 12 per cent of global airline needs.
With the global marine fuel market expected to reach US$171.49 billion by 2030, cleaner options like biomethane are more important than ever.
“These developments are enabled by Bioeconomy Corporation’s leadership in aligning policy, industry, research, and commercialisation to turn Malaysia’s biomass into practical solutions that advance Malaysia’s decarbonisation and energy transition efforts,” he said.
Moving forward, Malaysia will continue to focus on expanding the commercial adoption of bio-based technologies, investing in innovation infrastructure and upskilling local talent, and strengthening regional partnerships to lead ASEAN’s green transition.
Bioeconomy Corporation is the lead development agency for the bio-based and biotechnology industries in Malaysia, under the purview of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).
-- BERNAMA
