KUCHING: The growing demand for biomass as a source of renewable energy is a new opportunity for Sarawak's timber industry to tap into, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

He said countries like Japan and Korea were turning to green energy, including biomass, to replace petroleum, coal and nuclear energy as power sources.

"This is an opportunity for our timber industry to export wood pellets as biomass. As we continue to reduce log exports, we have to adjust to other high-value products like biomass," he said when handing over financial contributions from the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) to welfare, social and community associations here on Thursday (April 13).

Last year, Sarawak exported RM23.1mil worth of wood pellets, up from RM427,000 in 2021.

Awang Tengah said the focus on high-value products, particularly furniture, engineered wood and biomass, was part of Sarawak's ongoing efforts to improve the timber industry's sustainability.

He said other measures included mandatory forest management certification for long-term timber licence holders and using planted forests as a source of raw materials to reduce pressure on natural forests.

"We will also continue to gazette new national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Our target is to have one million hectares of totally protected areas by 2025," he said.

On STIDC's financial contributions, Awang Tengah said this was meant to help non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to carry out their programmes in areas such as education, health and entrepreneurship.

"We want to promote the spirit of sharing what we have with society," he said.

STIDC has been presenting financial contributions to NGOs annually since 1982.

This year, it handed over a total of RM284,000 to 62 organisations.