Malaysian biomass firm Elridge Energy is spending RM45 million to enter the activated carbon business. Its subsidiary Lumeria Power will install six production lines at Pulau Indah, Selangor, with a combined designed capacity of up to 21,600 tonnes per year. The first three lines are scheduled to start commercial production in the first half of fiscal 2027, with the remaining three following in the second half. Elridge plans to use palm kernel shell biomass as feedstock, moving it from low-margin fuel use into a higher-value filtration material. Target customers include industrial manufacturers, water treatment operators, and processing facilities in Malaysia, China, and Japan. The investment is fully funded from internal cash, and the company says no IPO proceeds will be used. The move is relevant for anyone tracking biomass value chains and water treatment supply. It is a manufacturing expansion, not a carbon offset project. The global activated carbon market is projected to grow from US$9.26 billion in 2026 to US$15.71 billion, according to Business Research Company, though the project still needs licenses and permits before production starts.
