June 8, 2023 — In 2016, Aumkar commissioned its biogas capture plant as part of MPOB directives, using a covered lagoon system designed by Mr Martin Campbell Board from KPSR Construction. The system captures around 750m3 per hour of biogas with around 65% methane content. The biogas is then biologically scrubbed to remove Hydrogen Sulphide gas and supplied to a 1MW gas engine. The gas engine co-powers the mill and domestic housing. It was found that the gas engine was only utilising around 350m3 per hour which left 400m3 of spare gas that was simply being flared.

In 2018, Aumkar requested Mr Campbell Board to design an ultra low cost biogas upgrading plant where biogas would be upgraded to bio-methane at quality levels suitable for powering trucks. By 2019 a design was finalised and installation commenced. In order to contain costs, Aumkar purchased two second NGV Compressors and Dispensers from Petronas (which were being dismantled from petrol stations in West Malaysia), and installed these for it’s bio-methane plant. The compressors and dispensers are serviced by Sime Darby Engineering.

Aumkar then purchased its first 100% NGV truck from HS Hohan Commercial Vehicles Sdn Bhd. The truck was finally delivered earlier this year and upon obtaining the necessary permits and road tax, the NGV truck was put into operation in mid August. As Aumkar’s mill is the sole refuelling point for NGV in the Kunak area, the truck was designed to ensure there is sufficient gas storage for the truck to make a return trip from Aumkar Mill to Kunak or Lahad Dato where CPO refineries are located.

Aumkar has excess biogas capacity to fuel up to 25 trucks per day and plans to replace it’s entire fleet of diesel trucks to cease purchasing diesel entirely for vehicles delivering CPO and FFB.

Aumkar operates around 22,000 acres of land and a 45MT/H CPO mill in Tingkayu, Kunak.