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Photo courtesy from Chitose Group
The world's largest algae biomass production plant is ready to start operating in Singapore
SINGAPORE
Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 07:00 (GMT + 9)
Chitose Group, a Singapore-based conglomerate of biotech companies with operations in Southeast Asia and Japan, announced it is finalizing details to bring the world's largest algae biomass production facility online in Sarawak in the island of Borneo, in the coming month.
Chitose Carbon Capture Central (C4) will use flat panel photobioreactor technology and according to Chitose Laboratory Corp CEO and bioengineer Takanori Hoshino, the project has received more than $18.3 million (2.5 billion yen) from the Japanese government and has gained the attention of the Sarawak Biodiversity Center (SBC), Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) and ENEOS Corporation. .png)
“This project is being financed by the Japanese government for five years until the end of fiscal year 2024 and after that, we will use the C4 facilities for the commercial production of various products from microalgae biomass,” the executive told Borneo Post.
The project aims to demonstrate the massive production of microalgae biomass throughout the year. Microalgae show enormous potential in different industries. Farmed biomass can be processed and used to create jet fuel, protein, human and animal nutrition foods, bioplastics, paints, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical ingredients.
“For example, starting in 2027, it will be mandatory for all airlines in the world to blend a certain percentage of their jet fuels with biofuel and there is currently not enough supply,” Hoshino said.
He explained that once "sustainable aviation fuel" could be mass-produced from microalgae biomass, the company could start exporting it to Southeast Asian countries, eventually targeting the US and EU.
C4's microalgae cultivation site currently spans 5 hectares, but Hoshino has plans to expand the farm to 100 hectares in the next three years and is considering taking it to 2,000 hectares by 2030. He explained that Sarawak is an ideal location for cultivation of microalgae. microalgae, as it has an ideal year-round growth temperature, abundant fresh water, and relatively isolated from natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes.
"Sarawak is also strategically located to access major international markets such as Japan, Taiwan, China and Singapore, as well as having the availability of skilled and trained local labor."
C4's site is located next to SEB's Sejingkat power plant, which is supplying it with carbon dioxide-containing exhaust gas for growing microalgae. The SBC, for its part, provides qualified researchers and labor for the project.
Sarawak Prime Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is expected to officiate the C4 opening ceremony on April 4. Also attending the event will be a delegation of industry experts and potential investors from Japan, as well as government officials from Sarawak.
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