Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Tuesday witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on transfer of technology on the “Advance Moving Bed Bio Reactor (AMBBR)” from China to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).
Through the MoU, UTM and Professor Wang Qing Zhong from China who created the technology will collaborate on research, development and commercialisation.
The scope includes the setting up of an AMBBR plant, research on characterisation and production of ‘Diatomic Earth’ in Malaysia, capacity building, expertise training and marketing of AMBBR derivative technology.
The MOU was signed by Kyto Water Sdn Bhd executive director Muhammad Afiq Syazali Ghazali, UTM vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Wahid Omar and Wang at the Prime Minister’s Office here.
Also witnessing the signing was Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry (KeTTHA) secretary-general, Datuk Loo Took Gee.
The technology is in wide use on a commercial basis in China with more than 400 large and medium sized plants operating.
The technology is used to produce high quality treated water, without odour and minimum sludge. The plants entail lower capital and operating costs and are compact in design.
Meanwhile, Wahid said the technology transfer would benefit all stakeholders including the National Water Services Commission, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK),
KeTTHA, Education Ministry and Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).
“Through this collaboration we expect to produce new Intellectual Property (IP) in three years, especially in new applications of AMBBR besides treating sewage.
“I am very positive this collaboration will have a big impact on Malaysia in general and UTM, the water industry and potential for revenue generation which is a positive step towards forming a world water hub in the country,” he said.
Besides the market in Malaysia, Wahid said other countries had shown interest to use AMBBR technology from Malaysia including India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Brazil.
Wang said he hoped with the collaboration, Malaysia would become a hub for water based on high technology.
“This R&D cooperation wil Malaysia an example in managing water resources for other countries,” he said.
