1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

Environmental control of palm oil industry : an economic analysis

AuthorCheah, Siew Lan
Call NumberAIT Thesis no.EV-80-21
Subject(s)Palm-oil industry--Environmental aspects
Environmental policy--Economic aspects
NoteA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
AbstractThis report presents an economic analysis of environmental control established by the Government of Malaysia for the palm-oil industry. Discounted economic cash flow and internal rate of return technique have been utilized for this analysis. Data and information required for this analysis are gathered from field interviews of oil palm estates and processing mills of the Federal Land Development Authority from November December 1979. Based on the available information from these sources, economic performance of three representative mills of 20, 36, and 60 tonne FFB/hr capacity were evaluated for 15 years of development and operation. Results of this analysis revealed a minimal economic impact on the mills with internalized pollution abatement costs. However, a potential price increase in the saleable products is anticipated due to the increase in demand for the expanding domestic refining and fractionating industry. Cost-effectiveness analysis was carried out to identify treatment schemes with optimal costs which would at the same time help meeting the effluent limitations required by the environmental control regulations. Anaerobic ponds with recirculation and high rate tank digesters as first stage treatment, followed by aerated lagoons are recommended for treatment of palm oil mill effluents. Both these treatment schemes incur relatively higher costs than that used in the economic impact analysis, but the industry should be able to absorb these treatment costs as the economic impact of such controls on the mills is minimal.
Year1980
TypeThesis
SchoolSchool of Environment, Resources, and Development
DepartmentDepartment of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC))
Academic Program/FoSEnvironmental Engineering and Management (EV)
Chairperson(s)I, Fude ; Dhira Phantumvanit
Examination Committee(s)Lohani, Bindu N.
Scholarship Donor(s)Government of the United States of America
DegreeThesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1980


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