IN about nine months, a large-scale centralised animal waste treatment plant is set to be developed here at Perkampungan Valdor, Sungai Bakap.
Timeless Green Sdn Bhd via its wholly-owned subsidiary Clean Green Kg Valdor Sdn Bhd, is developing the centralised biogas power plant which will divert wastewater from all 40 pig farms in Perkampungan Valdor to the treatment plant.
Timeless Green Sdn Bhd founder Datuk Dr Dennis Ganendra said this is the first project of its kind in Peninsula Malaysia and is a private investment initiative of over RM23 million.
“No funds were obtained from the state or federal government,” he said in his speech before the groundbreaking ceremony today.
Dr Dennis hoped that the plant, touted to be the largest animal waste biogas plant in Peninsula Malaysia, would be commissioned and operated by March next year.
It will be located on a 2.5-acre site in Jalan Valdor 17.
Dr Dennis said the project would have two components – addressing animal waste and production of green energy.
“We will be collecting animal waste from 40 pig farms, which have about 100,000 pigs.
“We will use the piping system to transfer the waste from those farms which are closer to the plant. We will be using the trucking system for farms that are located further away from our plant.
“At the plant, the waste will be placed in a biogas digester and will be broken down.
“Green, clean electricity will be produced and supplied to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) via the Feed-In-Tariff scheme backed by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda).
“The waste which comes out from the biogas will get further separated. The water will be further treated to get clean water before being discharged and we will also have organic fertilizer.
“There will be various good elements from this project,” he said.
He thanked the pig farmers for their strong support.
“It requires every farmer to make this initiative a success, and I am happy to see 100% participation from the farmers (40 farmers) here,” he said.
He added that the company was keen on signing up with Kampung Selamat next.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Penang government welcomed the environmentally-friendly project in Perkampungan Valdor.
“The farmers no longer have to discharge the animal waste into the drainage system once this project is completed.
“We hope that the long-standing problem of discharging pig waste or animal waste into the river system will be eliminated through the participation of the farms in this pilot project.
“This is an environmental-friendly project with two components. One is to address the emission of waste which causes environmental issues to the local and surrounding community.
“And secondly, the production of green energy from animal waste.
“This biogas plant leads the way for modern pig farming, making it cleaner and more sustainable. It is also an important step and a major boost to our food security.
“I congratulate the management team of Timeless Green for promoting green investment and a sustainable project in Penang. Today marks a historic moment for Perkampungan Valdor,” he said.
Also present were Penang Welfare and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, state Agrotech and Food Security, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin, Sungai Bakap assemblyman Datuk Dr Amar Pritpal Abdullah, Jawi assemblyman Jason H’ng, Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik, and Batu Kawan MP P. Kasthuriraani.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi