KUALA LUMPUR (July 17): PBA Holdings Bhd's wholly-owned unit Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) is seeking to commercialise its research and development (R&D) project to recycle water treatment plant residue (WTP residue) in Malaysia.

In a statement today, PBA Holdings and PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk Ir. Jaseni Maidinsa said PBAPP has proven that WTP residue may be re-used as a value-added material to manufacture clay bricks for the construction industry.

Jaseni said WTP residue is classified as a "scheduled waste" that must be disposed of safely, in accordance to the "Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005".

He said PBAPP's "conversion of WTP residue into clay bricks" project offers the potential to:

• recycle a scheduled waste in a smart and "green" manner on an industrial scale
• re-use WTP residue safely as a raw material for the construction industry, and
• reduce scheduled waste disposal costs for all water supply operators in Malaysia.

PBAPP has developed the technology to recycle and re-use WTP residue, said Jaseni.

"However, we do not have the relevant expertise, experience and resources to successfully commercialise it.

"As such, we are seeking proposals from companies who are interested to take on the challenge of commercialising our R&D project," he said.

Jaseni said that ideally, the interested parties should have established credentials in industrial-scale manufacturing of construction materials, as well as the relevant capabilities in sales, marketing and logistics.