The Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) with the support of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce will conduct the main feasibility study for the cashew nut shell bio-heavy oil conversion plant construction and operation project in Cambodia.
The meeting was co-chaired by CCC president Lim Heng and Kim Sung Yun, Vice President of the Korea Institute of Energy Research. The main feasibility study will start from October this year to June 2025, to conduct the demonstration plant establishment project in 2025, the firm said.
Heng viewed the project as a boost to develop processing facilities in Cambodia, especially in the cashew nut industry.
“Cashew nuts are one of Cambodia’s potential agricultural products. With investment in processing raw materials and shells to oil and energy is tapping the processing sector in the country with value-added, and creating jobs,” Heng said.
Commercialization of this plant is planned through collaboration between Cambodia and Korea, Heng said.
During a visit to Korea last month, the CCC delegation also paid a visit to the bio-fuel conversion plant and sought to understand product quality and yield.
According to the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia, the Kingdom currently has about 700,000 hectares of cashew plantations in 10 provinces.
Cashew is among the country’s potential cash crops in addition to rice, rubber, cassava, palm oil, bananas, mangoes, longans, and pepper.
Cambodia exported $837 million worth of raw cashew nuts in 2023, according to the association.
Heng said Kampong Thom province is likely to be the most attractive hub for cashew nut shell bio-heavy oil conversion plant.
Early this month, a cashew processing and cashew shell-extracted biomass fuel plant invested by Japan’s Mirath Green Tech was officially inaugurated in Kampong Thom province.
The Korea Institute of Energy Research has recently completed its preliminary feasibility study for a bio-fuel conversion plant in Cambodia, starting from October 2023 to June 2024.