EcoCeres to build renewable diesel, SAF plant in Malaysia

EcoCeres Inc. announced June 4 a significant investment in a new hydrotreated biofuel production facility in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia.

The facility will serve as a major production hub for renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and biobased naphtha with an annual capacity target of more than 115 million gallons.

Used cooking oil and wastewater from palm-oil mills will be used as feedstocks, which will then be turned into high-value sustainable fuels and chemicals.

By integrating waste-management practices into the production process, this facility will contribute to Johor’s efforts in waste reduction, resource conservation and sustainable-material management.

More than 260 jobs will be created and will result in more employment opportunities in the surrounding towns.

“Today, thanks to EcoCeres, will mark the beginning of a process that will eventually result in the construction of a sustainable biofuel facility, which will have important repercussions not only for the state but also for the nation,” said Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, the chief minister of Johor. “The presence of this biofuel production facility creates opportunities for new jobs and calls for a knowledgeable labor force in its continued operation, which is significant from an economic point of view.”

Philip Siu, co-founder and CEO of EcoCeres, added, “This project will be a win-win-win partnership between EcoCeres, the Johor government and local communities as a whole for delivering a decarbonization solution to the world. It is also a pivotal milestone in our global-expansion journey. The facility, to be managed by Malaysian subsidiary EcoCeres Renewable Fuels Sdn Bhd, will leverage EcoCeres’ proprietary technologies to convert low-value feedstocks into high-value sustainable fuels and chemicals.”