Many foreign companies and investors have shown interest in studying and investing in biomass and bioenergy production using cashew nuts and branches in Cambodia.
Biomass plays a key role in the transition to a clean and sustainable energy system.
The 8th Biomass & Bioenergy Asia Conference, held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from November 27-28, brought together industry leaders, experts and investors to discuss the latest developments and opportunities in the biomass and bioenergy sectors across the region.
Cambodian Cashew Association (CAC) Vice President Suy Kokthean, who attended the conference last week, told Khmer Times yesterday that the conference focused on the potential of biomass production from discarded cashew nut by-products, especially cashew nuts and branches that farmers cut and discard.
Kokthean said foreign investors from around the world, especially from Europe, have shown great interest in biomass from cashew nuts and branches.
“Cashew nut shell biomass represents a valuable opportunity for clean energy production and waste reduction, especially in a country with a large cashew nut production like Cambodia,” he said.
He added, “My presentation aims to attract not only Vietnamese investors but also investors from around the world, especially European investors who have shown interest in exploring biomass opportunities in Cambodia. I presented to a large European company that has expressed interest in investing $500 million in biomass projects in Southeast Asia.”
According to Mr. Kokthean, a large company will pay an official visit to Cambodia in January 2025 to study, and he will hold meetings with government representatives, especially from the Council for the Development of Cambodia, to seek guidance and recommendations regarding the investment project.
“If we can attract investors, our farmers will no longer have to throw away the cashew branches they cut. Instead, they can sell the cashew branches for biomass production, giving them additional income to support their farming activities.”
Cashew nut shells are the shells left over from the original product, the cashew nut. The physical and chemical properties of cashew nuts make them a good alternative to fossil fuels. Biomass refers to organic matter derived from plants, animals, and microorganisms that can be used as a renewable energy source.
Cashew nuts can be sold for about $115 to $130 per ton and can be processed into oil or used in steel furnaces, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.
