BIOMASS IN MALAYSIA: FORESTRY-BASED RESIDUES

Abstract

This paper reviews forestry biomass specifically material derived from natural forest, plantation forest, and rubber plantation of Malaysia, material collected upon log production and primary wood manufacturing activities. The information helps to foresee the potential of these promising waste resources to be used for energy products. As Malaysia forest covers from inland to coastal vegetation and natural forest as well as forest plantations plus rubberwood plantation in Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak, therefore, a lot of residues have been generated. It is estimated that the total number of energy generated from waste in 2012 is 0.720, 0.381, and 1.657 Mtoe of Peninsular, Sabah, and Sarawak respectively. As Malaysia is expected to grow in population and economy, hence, sourcing an alternative for energy feedstock and biomass industry is crucial and forestry based biomass are seen as an opportunity. Keywords: biomass, forestry, Malaysia, natural forest, plantation forest, rubberwood plantation, renewable energy