Biogas plant and methane emission mitigation
United Plantations would hereby like to announce the completion of its second methane trapping plant located on the UIEM Estate. This marks the 3rd Clean Development Mechanism project, which together with the earlier projects will help to mitigate the emissions of carbon dioxide equal to that of 18,000 cars annually. The Company is currently working towards completion of its 3rd biogas plant scheduled for commissioning in November 2010. Upon completion this will help to reduce the company’s green house gas footprint by 35% per tonne of palm oil produced compared to levels in 2005.  

Pesticides and phasing out of paraquat usage
United Plantations was the world’s first certified producer of sustainable palm oil under the Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and has always remained transparent about its usage of paraquat, which is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world.

Following questions by key customers relating to the Company’s usage of pesticides United Plantations is pleased to announce that affirmative initiatives continues to be made in terms of reducing the Company’s overall usage of pesticides. Today the Company’s usage of pesticides  is about 50 times lower per ton of oil produced vis-a-vis soyabean farmers (non GMO) and about 10 times lower per ton of rape seed farmers (non GMO).

Malaysia and Indonesia permits the usage of paraquat as does more than 100 other countries in the world. Under the RSPO paraquat usage is also permitted within oil palm plantations as long as RSPO member companies show measurable intentions of phasing this out under the continuous improvement programme. 
 
Paraquat usage has in tune with United Plantations targets steadily been declining and today represents about 5% of the Company’s total usage of pesticides. In this connection the Company wishes to announce that the use of Paraquat will be totally phased out by the 1st of January 2011.

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For further information please contact Dato' Carl Bek-Nielsen, Executive Director.
cbn@plantations.biz
Phone +605-6411411