Judicious Use of Fertilizers

Fertilizer inputs are optimized for the planting age, soil type and yield profile of the respective plantings. Rates are judiciously set based on annual foliar and periodic soil analysis in order to achieve sustainable high unit area yields. The measures to reduce fertilizers usage are as below:

Clarification Sludge

The effluent from the clarification station, which accounts for 75% of the total BOD generated in the mill, is processed via a decanter and the resultant cake is mixed with inorganic fertilisers and dried in a rotary drier to produce organic fertilisers commercially marketed as Supergro, Turfgro and Bajaria. Apart from adding value to waste, the system reduces methane production by 75%. Additionally, the rotary drier used for drying the fertilisers also functions as a scrubber of unburnt carbon particles in the flue gas producing, in the process, cleaner emissions.

Production of fertilizer from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)

Steriliser Condensate

The steriliser condensate is anaerobically treated in biodegradation ponds and the digested effluent used for irrigating oil palms. Apart from improving the soils physical, chemical and biological properties, land application of digested effluent increases oil palm yield by up to 25%. Presently about 140 hectares in the Company is under land application. Analysis on BOD in effluent is carried out in monthly basis to ensure the BOD level is below the permissible level recommended by Department of Environment.

EFB Mulching

Most of the EFBs (empty fruit bunches) that come out of the mill as waste are used as an organic fertilizer for oil palms. This compliments the nutrient level and improves the physical properties of the soil.

Mulching with Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB)

Reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

Methane Capture (Biogas Plant)

UP has several methane capture and GHG reduction projects including 4 CDM projects which have been registered under UNIFCCC. Combined, these projects have reduced the annual emission of GHG by a minimum 125,000MT of CO2 (eq) thus enabling our Group to meet our target of reducing our “ Carbon Footprints” per MT of refined palm oil produced by 40% (with iLUC and nature conservation) already in 2017 when compared to pre-2005 levels

Since 2005,significant investments have been made in promoting green energy starting with the initial Biomass Reciprocating Boiler cum Power Plant and the first Biogas Plants built and commissioned in 2006. These projects combined have since helped to significantly reduce our emissions of CO2 by 70% and CH4 by 80% at the respective operating units thereby paving the way for additional green investments.

To further reaffirm our commitment towards reducing our GHG emissions, our 4th Biogas Plant, the first of its kind in Central Kalimatan was commissioned in June 2013 at our Company’s Palm Oil Mill in Indonesia.

The fifth and final biogas plant will be commissioned in 2018 and this will result in all our mills in our Group having methane capture facilities in the form of Biogas plants which will be a most gratifying achievement.

The biogas generated from the biogas plant (capacity 600m3/day) is scrubbed to remove the hydrogen sulphide and then used as fuel to generate electricity via a new installed 1.2MW Biogas Engine, minimising the need for closed flaring operation and utilizing the biogas to offset fossil fuel consumption in generating electricity. An estimated 6.9 million kWh of electricity was generated by the Biogas Engine in 2017 and an additional unit of Biogas Engine will be installed in 2018 to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the grid.


Biogas Plant

Newly installed Biogas Engine for electricity generation and supplied to TNB power grid.