Palm oil is one of the most important industries in Southeast Asia. It supports the economy and continues to grow. But with this growth comes a big challenge: Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME).
For every tonne of crude palm oil produced, about 2.5 to 3.0 tonnes of wastewater is generated. In Malaysia, this adds up to nearly 100 million tonnes of POME every year. This wastewater is difficult to treat because it has high pollution levels, solids, and acidic conditions.
The government is taking action. Malaysia’s Department of Environment (DOE) has tightened discharge limits over time. BOD limits have been reduced from 5,000 mg/L to 100 mg/L, and may go even lower in the future. Mills must meet these standards or face penalties.
At the same time, market expectations are changing. There are incentives like the Green Technology Financing Scheme (GTFS), biogas energy credits, and certifications such as RSPO. These encourage mills to do more than just meet minimum standards. Today, companies are expected to be more efficient and more sustainable.
This creates a gap.
Many existing treatment systems were built mainly for compliance. But now, mills need to improve efficiency, reduce chemicals, and look at water reuse. Traditional systems can struggle to meet all these needs, especially when wastewater quality changes.
This is where new solutions are needed.
At Hydroleap, our mission is to make water available, accessible, and affordable. For POME, this means helping mills treat wastewater better and use water more efficiently. Our electrochemical solutions can treat high-strength wastewater, remove difficult pollutants like COD and colour, and improve system stability. They also help reduce chemical use and support water reuse.
In this way, mills can move from just meeting regulations to improving overall operations. As the palm oil industry continues to grow, the focus should not only be on treating wastewater, but also on managing water in a better and more sustainable way. With the right approach, POME can become not just a problem, but an opportunity.
We look forward to meeting you at Asiawater KL 2026 (Booth BL209) and soon we will be at Palmex Jakarta 2026 to share more.
Get in touch with me at yh.goh@hydroleap.com to find out more about how Hydroleap can help treat POME in both Malaysia and Indonesia
Written by Goh Yeow Hwee, Regional Sales Manager, Hydroleap