Low-Ash Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) Pellet

Pelletizing is the process of compacting loose biomass to a densified and uniform fuel which can be used for energy production. In order to overcome the current challenges on high ash and production cost, MPOB in collaboration with Global Green Synergy Sdn. Bhd. (GGS) has developed an improved process of EFB pelletization and built an EFB pellet plant (1 t hr-1) in Mambau, Negeri Sembilan to produce high quality pellets with low ash content. This process has significantly reduced the ash content of EFB pellet (<4 %) compared to typical product (>5%) and production cost, respectively. Commercial trials using pressed EFB as the starting raw material showed that this technology was technically and economically viable to be set up either as a stand-alone production plant or integrated with the palm oil mill (POM). The low ash EFB pellet is in cylindrical log: 8 mm in diameter, 30 – 40 mm in length and 2.3 – 2.7 g in weight, and packed and sold in 800 kg jumbo bag.

                                                Low-ash EFB pellet                       EFB pellet plant in Mambau, Negeri Sembilan