Palm oil firm invests in biomass power project

Kanjanadit Palm Oil Co. (KPO) is investing 250 million baht (US$7.47 million) to expand its palm oil capacity to 95 tons a day from the existing 80 tons and develop a renewable energy facility at its palm oil factory in Surat Thani. By using the biomass gasification system (BGS), KPO aims to achieve its zero-waste strategy by 2010, said Managing Director Somyot Suksawat. KPO will invest 120 million baht (US$3.59 million) in the biomass power project scheduled to start operating by 2010. The facility would generate 1.2 megawatts (MW) of power in the first phase. (June 26, 2008)