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Malaysia is one of the leading producers and exporters of oil palm, and the industry contributes significantly to the growth of the national economy. Nonetheless, the consequential oil palm biomass (OPB) with a potential yield of ∼97 million tonnes annually presents both challenges and opportunities, demanding innovative waste management solutions. This paper explores the feasibility of converting OPB into valuable commodities by employing concentrated solar-driven pyrolysis. A detailed overview of the biomass produced from oil palm plantations and mills is provided, along with a discussion of the industry stakeholders and associated biomass management challenges. The pyrolysis of OPB is explored, emphasizing benefits, potential barriers, and techniques. The focus then shifts to Malaysia's solar potential, which ranges from 1470 to 1900 kWh/m2 annually. The potentials of solar pyrolysis are explored, encompassing discussions on solar concentrator types, reactors, and the distribution of solar and OPB resources throughout Malaysia. The paper then recommends Tawau in Sabah, as an ideal location for OPB solar pyrolysis, due to its solar availability (up to 1873 kWh/m2), potential OPB resources from 19 mills and 241 plantations, and supportive infrastructure. The paper proposes solar-driven pyrolysis as a sustainable solution for Malaysia's OPB management, offers insights for policy initiatives and technological innovations in optimizing OPB and solar energy utilization. • Analyzes oil palm biomass potential for solar pyrolysis in Malaysia. • Explores solar resources in Malaysia for solar-driven pyrolysis. • Examines solar concentrators and reactors for pyrolysis. • Identifies potential city, as the optimal location for solar pyrolysis. • Discusses commercialization challenges of solar-driven pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the outcome of an investigation which was conducted soon after the 2015 Sabah earthquake in Malaysia. Buildings in the affected area were mainly constructed from reinforced concrete (RC) and wooden materials. Although the Mw 6.0 earthquake imposed significant damage to the majority of RC buildings, no significant structural damage was observed for the wooden structures. It was found that damage to the RC buildings was mainly because of non-ductile detailing of the structural components, strong-beam weak-column condition, captive-column and short-column effects, soft and weak stories mechanism, irregularity in plan and elevation, unconfined gable/infill walls, bad workmanship, and the low quality of construction materials. It was observed that many wooden structures had flaws in their design and construction as well. However, because of the high strength-to-weight ratio and the flexible properties of wooden materials which allow them to undergo several cycles of deformation without breaking, they survived the seismic actions. This paper identifies and discusses the main reasons for the damage observed in RC buildings and the construction flaws that were observed for wooden structures. Recommendations from seismic design codes in order to prevent the occurrence of such damage in the future are also highlighted. • A brief explanation about seismic activities in Sabah, Malaysia is presented. • Observed damage to RC buildings and seismic code requirements are discussed. • Damage to wooden buildings and observed construction flaws are discussed. • Suggestions for having safer structures in the future construction are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Several biofuel candidates were proposed to displace fossil fuels in order to eliminate the vulnerability of energy sector. Biodiesel and bioethanol produced from terrestrial plants have attracted the attention of the world as potential substitute. However, due to food vs. fuel competition as well as land consumption of these biofuel, they have brought much controversy and debate on their sustainability. In this respect, cultivation of macroalgae such as seaweed at sea water which does not expend arable land and fertilizers provides a possible solution for this energy issue. Carbohydrates derived from seaweeds contain hexose sugars which are suitable materials for fermentation to produce ethanol. Therefore, it is possible to produce fuel ethanol from seaweeds. The potential and prospective of seaweeds to play the role as a sustainable energy provider are demonstrated in this paper. This study offers a conceivable picture of macroalgae-based third-generation bioethanol biorefinery to stimulate the initiation of the exploration in the related field. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: When rain forest is logged, rills and gullies are often initiated on heavily disturbed and compacted terrain components; whether and for how long they continue to enlarge following logging is critical as regards the recovery and sustainability of the regenerating forest. This paper examines these two issues in logged rain forest in northeastern Borneo. Results are presented of an investigation into how soil erosion rates and surface topography varies in selectively logged forests at different stages of regeneration (up to 15 years after logging) in Danum Valley, eastern Sabah, Malaysia. Measurements were made of changes in ground level and surface roughness at over 100 transect sites over periods of 1–15 years using the erosion bridge (microprofiler) technique. In the complex mosaic of the post-logging regenerating forest, attention focused on key features, notably abandoned logging tracks, gullies, heavily disturbed or compacted areas and road-related landslides and comparisons are made with primary forest terrain. The role of extreme rainstorms in controlling the temporal pattern of post-logging erosion in both regenerating and primary forest is demonstrated. The different situations in which rills and gullies initiated during or following logging enlarge or disappear in post-logging terrain are highlighted. The implications of the results for slope evolution and sustainable rain-forest management policies are briefly considered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The onshore and shallow marine conventional hydrocarbon resources around the world are mostly at the maturation phase and hence, exploration activity globally, showing increasing interest into progressively deeper water hydrocarbon prospects such as South China Sea basins. However, a comprehensive understanding of basin tectonics, depositional history, and petroleum systems of the basin is required to deduce the exploration prospectivity of these deeper reservoirs. The Sabah Basin is a prolific hydrocarbon province in Southeast Asia and has a significant economic impact on this part. Recent discoveries in the deep-water hydrocarbon prospects in the NW Sabah Trough prompted a comprehensive investigation of the surrounding area, e.g., Dangerous Grounds for hydrocarbon prospectivity. Previous studies in the Dangerous Grounds mainly focused on the sparse 2D seismic and gravity-magnetic data analysis. A systematic review of stratigraphic evolution has not been presented thus far in the published literature. In this paper, recently acquired high-resolution 3D seismic data with the core and cuttings and conventional well log data from the adjacent areas have been combined to characterize the stratigraphic evolution of the Dangerous Grounds in the NW Sabah Platform. Seven horizons interpreted from the 7570 sq. km 3D seismic data, calibrated with the global sea - level curve and geological time scale, to establish the stratigraphic evolution in the study area. Based on distinct structural and seismic characteristics, and calibrated with the adjacent regions well data, two mega-sequences, namely, lower syn-rift and upper post-rift mega-sequences, have been identified and evaluated. The Paleocene to Early Oligocene syn-rift sequence consists of clastic sedimentary fill in grabens and half-grabens is overlain by Late Oligocene to recent post-rift sedimentary successions represented by siliciclastic and carbonates deposits. Major depositional units within these two mega-sequences, including carbonate, channel, mass transport deposits, and turbidites have been identified and evaluated. During Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene, the area has witnessed the deposition of carbonate platform and reefs on top of pre-existing structural highs. Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene channel-levee complexes with convex upward sand filling features is prominent in the seismic data. Mass Transport Deposits and turbidites have also been observed above the Middle Miocene Unconformity with distinct seismic characteristics. The pelagic and hemipelagic nature of the sedimentary succession deposited from Pliocene to recent in a passive margin condition have also been interpreted from their unique seismic features. Paleocene-Early Oligocene syn-rift siliciclastic hydrocarbon play, Late Oligocene-Middle Miocene carbonate play, and Late Miocene turbidite play within the study area have been interpreted. • Syn-rift clastic sediments deposited in between Paleocene to Early Oligocene age. • The significant presence of three types of reefs as patchy, pinnacle and atoll. • Late Oligocene-Middle Miocene convex upward sand filling channel-levee complex. • Mass Transport Deposits and Turbidites above the Middle Miocene Unconformity. • Pliocene-recent pelagic-hemipelagic sediments deposited in passive margin condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews quantitative biostratigraphic data from 101 petroleum exploration wells from the Malay, Sarawak and Sabah basins, and places the stratigraphy of each area into a precise chronostratigraphic framework comprising 41 transgressive-regressive depositional packages which are fully defined here. Each package is 'fingerprinted' by foraminiferal, nannofossil and palynological index fossils, and then tied to the global pattern of glacio-eustatic sea level and climate changes based on the global δ18O and δ13C datasets used to calibrate the geological timescale. The result is a tightly constrained chronostratigraphic framework that is applicable from deep to shallow water and is of high accuracy. It is concluded that there is a sedimentation 'pulsebeat' across Southeast Asia, independent of local and regional tectonics, driven by patterns of global climate change. For the Oligocene and Miocene, Antarctic glaciation is the key driver, whereas the Pliocene cycles are mainly driven by the expansion and contraction of Northern Hemisphere glaciers. The new chronostratigraphic framework allows unconformities across Malaysia to be better characterised, and the different classification schemes of seismic "Groups" in Malay and Penyu basins, "Cycles" in offshore Sarawak and "Stages" in offshore western Sabah to be correlated. Also, with a clear understanding of the effect of fluctuating sea levels on the stratigraphy of the region, it is easier to make firm judgments regarding the effect of tectonics. The study also characterises systems tracts from shelf to basin floor using biostatigraphic assemblages, which should help in ground-truthing the architecture of depositional sequences in the region based on seismic. The new framework is proposed as an alternative to the outdated TB scheme of Haq et al. (1988) , widely used to interpret depositional cycles across Sarawak and Sabah. Image 1 • 101 Malaysian exploration wells were studied for Sequence Biostratigraphy. • 41 depositional cycles have been defined from the mid-Oligocene to Pliocene. • Ages are 'fingerprinted' using age-restricted foraminifera, nannofossils and pollen. • Cycles were driven by Antarctic, followed by Arctic ice volume changes. • The study identifies major issues with the 'Haq' and other sea level curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]