Events
Short-term trainee Ms.Hanis Return to Malaysia
Ms.Nur Hanis Alisa, a USM master’s degree student who went to Japan (JIRCAS@Tsukuba) as a short-term trainee for half a year from May to November 2023, safely returned to Malaysia on November 3rd. We believe that not only learned a lot from research activities, but also learned a lot from Japanese culture and many experiences, and made many friends. Hope she will share the experience in Japan with other students in the SATREPS OPT laboratory in USM and further contribute to the result of SATREPS OPT project.
Bioeconomy Corporartion visited Kluang Pilot Plant
On 23 Oct, 2023, Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation Sdn Bhd under The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) visited our Kluang pilot plant. The project overview was explained also toured the Kluang Pilot Plant. We discussed about the Bio-based accumulator (BBA Program) and BioNexus Status for further social implementation activities of the project.
JICA Malaysia visited USM SATREPS Lab
JICA Malaysia Office, Chief Representative, Madam Sugawara and Mr. Ohi visited USM’s SATREPS OPT Research Lab on October 19, 2023, and discussed the progress of the project with the Malaysia side Project Leader, Prof. Sudesh. In addition, on October 2nd, JICA person in charge of the project, Mr. Egawa, visited USM and confirmed the progress of the project at USM, also toured the Research Lab.
Courtesy call of JICA MS Office to the USM VC
JICA Malaysia Office, Chief Representative, Madam Sugawara and Mr. Ohi paid a courtesy call to USM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman on 18 October 2023. Expressed sincere appreciation for the cooperation of SATREPS OPT Project and also talked about ASEAN University Network/Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network (AUN/SEED-Net).
Courtesy Visit to Ministry of Plantation and Commodities
We paid a courtesy visit to Dato’ Zailani Bin Hj. Hahim (Deputy Secretary General) of the Ministry. We were able to report on project progress and research results, and actively discuss the wide use and popularization of palm biomass, including OPT and OPF.
Meeting With NIBM
Meeting with Prof. Dr. Raha Abdul Rahim (Chief Executive Officer) and researchers of National Institute of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM) was held at Agro-Biotechnology Institute Malaysia (ABI) on Sep 7, 2023 to report of the project activities and to exchange the opinions for the research collaboration.
JICA MS visited our Kluang Pilot Plant and Pasoh Observation Site
On Sep 3rd and 8th, 2023, Mr. Egawa who is the person in charge of our SATREPS OPT Project of JICA Malaysia Office, visited our Kluang pilot plant (Johor) and Pasoh observation site (Negri Sembilan).
Idemitsu visited our Kluang Pilot Plant
On Sep 3rd, 2023, Idemitsu team member Idemitsu visited Kluang to tour the plant and discuss the preparation of OPT samples for their research.
Nagoya City Univ. visited USM Lab
On Aug 30th 2023, Prof. Itakura and 6 students from Nagoya City Univ. visited our SATREPS OPT Lab at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Prof. Kosugi explained the outline of the project, then, USM students explained mealworm and bioplastic research and gave a tour of our SATREPS laboratory.
NEDO Team visited USM Lab
On Aug 30th 2023, NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) members visited our SATREPS OPT Lab at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Prof. Kosugi explained the outline of the project, and technical question and answer session was held.
Sawit Kinabalu visited our Kluang Pilot Plant
On July 13, 2023, Sawit Kinabalu Sdn Bhd team from Sabah visited our Kluang pilot plant and exchanged views with Kluang technical staff on the effective use of OPT and palm biomass, also the Wastewater treatment technology.
Pasoh Field Observation and Analysis in USM Lab
Dr. Kondo from JIRCAS visited Malaysia for the observation at Pasoh and sample analysis at USM. Observations of greenhouse gases such as methane emitted during the decomposition process of OPT by termites and research on the effects of global warming are progressing smoothly in Pasoh.
Meeting With Texchem
SATREPS OPT Project/OPTERAZ Sdn Bhd had a meeting with Tan Sri Dato’ Fumihiko Konishi (Group Exective Chairman) and researchers of Texchem Polimers Sdn. Bhd on June 6th, 2023 to discuss regarding OPT/EFB raw material adjustment methods/requirements in Kluang Pilot Plant, procurement, and future cooperation.
Joint Meeting With FRIM & SIRIM
A joint meeting with FRIM and SIRIM was held at FRIM HQ on May 30, 2023 to report on the research progress and to exchange the opinions for the project, now in its fourth year.
Progress Meeting With MPOB
Prof. Kosugi, Project Leader, Prof.Sudesh, Project Manager of the the SATREPS OPT Project and the members had a progress meeting with Datuk Dr. Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir, Director-General and Dr. Zainab Idris, Depty Director-General of MPOB and other SATREPS Team Members on 29th May 2023.
FELDA visited our Kluang Pilot Plant
On May 24, 2023, a FELDA team visited our Kluang pilot plant and exchanged views with Prof. Sudesh of USM and Kluang technical staff on the effective use of OPT and palm biomass.
SATREPS Project Car from JICA
SATREPS OPT Project (USM) received Mitsubishi PAJERO Sports 4WD car from JICA Malaysia Office on 10th May 2023. During the project period till 2025, this car will be effectively used for the project activities to transport OPT samples, palm saplings, and to conduct field surveys at oil palm plantations and other locations.
Home page of JDBS, a JIRCAS venture
JIRCAS Dream Biomass Solutions Co. (JDBS), were certified in October 2022 as a venture company from the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS). We are also pleased to announce that the website of this JDBS is now available (http://opt-jdbs.com).
Growth test of oil palm saplings
Growth trials of oil palm saplings under different conditions such as OPT fiber and chemical fertilizers are underway. Long-term and short-term trainees to Japan are involved in this research.
Courtesy call to the USM VC
On February 27, 2003, Prof. Kosugi (Project Leader) from JIRCAS, Prof. Sudesh (Project Manager) and Dr. Leh Cheu Peng from USM and Project members paid a courtesy call to USM Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman and The project progress was reported to him..
Chamber Observation begins with OPT
Chamber observations with OPT in the oil palm plantation, located in Paso, Negri Sembilan have finally begun in Feb 2023. It is expected to elucidate the actual state of methane gas generation by termites during the OPT decomposition process.
Agro Innovation Exhibition 2022
From October 26 (Wed.) to 28 (Fri.) 2022, JIRCAS, IHI Corporation and Panasonic presented an exhibit of research activities including SATREPS project at Agro Innovation 2022. The event is a specialized exhibition that showcases cutting-edge technologies and products related to the entire value chain of Japan’s agricultural business.
4th JCC Meeting
The 4th Meeting of the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) for the Project was held virtually on 21st September 2022 as shown in Agenda at “View More”. This JCC meeting was participated by members of USM, MPOB, FRIM, SIRIM and MOHE from the Malaysian side and members of JIRCAS, IHI, Panasonic, Nissin Shoji and the Embassy of Japan, the Consulate-General of Japan in Penang, JST and JICA from the Japanese side.
Installation of Chamber System
Installation of multi-channeled chamber system was carried out at Oil Palm Plantation in Pasoh, Negri Sembilan. Evaluation of the biological and physical cycle (nutrient and carbon cycle) in oil palm plantation will be conducted by using this system.
JST News July 2022
An article featuring our SATREPS OPT Project was published in the JST news July 2022, and now available in English.
Project Team visited Malaysia
The project members traveled from Japan to Malaysia for the first time after the two and a half years of activity restrictions by COVID-19, and conducted research activities by visiting KL, Penang, Kluang and Bintulu. Meeting with Embassy of Japan, JICA Malaysia Office, SIRIM, Bousted Plantation, Consulate-General of Japan in Penang, USM, Texchem, OPTERAZ, Yong Seng Engineering, Sime Darby Research Plantation, BBC Palm Oil Mill and Verdastro, etc.
JST News July 2022
An article featuring our SATREPS OPT Project was published in the JST news July 2022 (in Japanese).
MoHE’s Audit Team visited USM
Ministry of Higher Education’s audit team visited our SATREPS OIL PALM RESEARCH LABORATORY, USM in Penang on 27th June 2022.
OPT Practical Application
Panasonic has released the PALM LOOP website that utilizes the development technology of this SATREPS OPT Project.
Creating Sustainable Industry
The SATREPS Project of JIRCAS was featured on January 11, 2022 in the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, a daily Japanese newspaper that specializes in business and industrial affairs.
OPT Session in ByPalma
SATREPS OPT Project Session was held by online in the International ByPalma Conference on 29th Sep 2021.
Now the presentation video and post event report are available.
Kluang Pilot Plant
FRIM (Forest Research Institute Malaysia) member visited to Kluang Pilot Plant for the collection of the OPT sample for their research activity.
Press Release
Panasonic Corporation issued a press release regarding the development of recycled wood board technology utilizing OPT.
Kluang Pilot Plant
Kluang Pilot Plant has been started the operation and production of OPT samples for the Project implementation / research activities.
ByPalma Conference
SATREPS OPT Project Session was held by online in the International ByPalma Conference 2021.
Kluang Pilot Plant
Our Kluang Pilot Plant will start operation after getting permission from MITI, soon.
3rd JCC meeting
3rd Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 29th September 2021 by Web Meeting System through Cisco Webex.