15/09/2025

BIZ & FINANCE MONDAY | SEPT 15, 2025

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Kaneka, Bacre break ground on biomass steam plant

warrants over the Hong Kong stocks. Call and put warrants are available over certain Hong Kong-listed shares, allowing bullish or bearish investors to gain exposure to any upward or downward moves in these shares without leaving Bursa Malaysia. To view the full list of structured warrants available on Bursa Malaysia, visit malaysiawarrants.com.my. Provided for Malaysian residents’ information only. This commentary has not been reviewed by the Securities Commission Malaysia. It is not an offer or recommendation to trade and is not research material. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. You should make your own assessment and seek professional advice. The warrants will not be offered to any US persons. Iskandar Investment supports Johor’s ambition to be digital, creative hub PETALING JAYA: Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) has come out in support of the vision outlined by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi to position the state as the regional hub for the digital and creative industries. The ambition, part of Johor’s economic transformation agenda in supporting high growth industries, marks a significant step towards strengthening the state’s position as a key player in Southeast Asia’s innovation economy. “For over a decade, IIB has been at the forefront of shaping Medini Iskandar as a vibrant nucleus for knowledge transfer, digital and creative industries,” said IIB president/CEO Datuk Idzham Mohd Hashim. “We commend the state government’s forward-thinking leadership and are proud to support Johor’s journey into the fast-growing ‘orange economy,’” he added. Medini is rapidly emerging as a vibrant hub for the digital, technology and creative industries. Its growing ecosystem is home to a diverse mix of companies, including Japan-based Deluxe Games and Reazon Holdings, Singapore-based Clarity Techworks and Quantified Energy Labs, as well as local innovators such as CoolCode, Imagine AI, Kestrl and Treom. Together, these companies reflect the region’s dynamic potential and its rising profile as a center for innovation and entrepreneurship. Building on this momentum, IIB launched Tech Medini, a 160-acre innovation cluster dedicated to next-generation industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), Web3.0, immersive media, drones and robotics automation. IIB said the initiative is designed to attract high-growth companies and foster a dynamic ecosystem of entrepreneurs, investors and innovators. Together with its ecosystem partners, IIB also offers programmes to support the growth of entrepreneurs, such as ideation workshops, fundraising workshop and bootcamps to be hosted in Medini, Iskandar Puteri, Johor. As Johor looks to lead in digital transformation, Idzham said, IIB remains committed to working hand-in-hand with the state government, public agencies and private sector partners. He added that Medini has been recognised as the digital and innovation hub of Johor since 2021 and this exemplifies their shared goal to unlock investments, nurture talent and create high-value job opportunities that will power Johor’s future economy. IIB believes that by fostering innovation and inclusivity, Johor is poised to become a regional beacon for digital and creative excellence.

Kaneka Malaysia” Situated on 3.4 acres, the biomass steam plant is designed as a showcase of industrial sustainability. Once completed, it will deliver renewable steam directly to Kaneka Malaysia’s operations, displacing fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Bacre Sdn Bhd director Hasnoel Ramly said: “ This project reflects Bacre’s mission to turn palm waste into a reliable and sustainable energy resource. We are building and operating this facility with a vision to set a benchmark for industrial decarbonisation in Malaysia. It is not only about supplying steam to Kaneka; it is about driving change in how industries source their energy.” The plant is expected to avoid 24,240 tonnes of CO Œ emissions annually, with an additional 70,032 tCO Œ reduction over 10 years from methane avoidance by preventing the uncontrolled decomposition of empty fruit bunch, which releases potent greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide. Scheduled to be operational by the third quarter of 2026, the biomass steam plant directly supports the national agenda of MyRER and the National Energy Transition Roadmap by converting agricultural waste into clean energy; reducing industrial carbon emissions; creating local employment opportunities; reinforcing circular economy principles and enhancing Malaysia’s global competitiveness in environmental, social and governance-led industries.

o RM31 million project in Gebeng, Pahang, marks major milestone in Malaysia’s renewable energy journey

PETALING JAYA: A consortium on Friday celebrated the groundbreaking of a RM31 million biomass steam plant located within Kaneka (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd’s chemical complex in Gebeng Industrial Estate, Pahang. The project, led by BAC Renewable Energy Sdn Bhd (Bacre) through its subsidiary Bacre Gebeng Sdn Bhd, marks a major milestone in Malaysia’s renewable energy journey and industrial decarbonisation efforts. Developed under a 20-year steam supply and purchase agreement, the plant will supply Kaneka Malaysia with up to 30 tonnes per hour (TPH) of green steam, replacing conventional natural gas-based steam generation, positioning the facility as a long-term contributor to Kaneka’s sustainability goals. Kaneka Malaysia has set an ambitious target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030, as part of its broader commitment to achieving net zero by 2050. The project is made possible through a strategic collaboration involving Kaneka Malaysia as the offtaker and landowner, and led by Bacre Gebeng Sdn Bhd as the project developer, owner and operator. Knight Frank Project Services Sdn Bhd (under Knight Frank

Malaysia) serves as the turnkey contractor responsible for end-to-end project delivery, while Boilermech Sdn Bhd provides the boiler technology and system integration. The initiative is financially supported by Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd, with Emnes Metal Sdn Bhd contributing as a strategic partner to facilitate cross-sector coordination and sustainability integration. Knight Frank Malaysia senior executive director Teh Young Khean remarked that they are committed to supporting projects that drive sustainable development and res ponsible industrial growth. He added that the biomass steam plant exemplifies how innovative project manage ment and strategic partnerships can deliver tangible environmental benefits while supporting Malaysia’s renewable energy goals. Kaneka Malaysia managing dierctor Hiroyuki Nishimoto commented, “This green steam initiative reflects our commitment to sustainability and innovation. Working with Bacre and its consortium of partners allows us to significantly reduce our carbon footprint by about 30,000 tCO2e per year while enhancing operational efficiency. This is also a breakthrough for Kaneka Corporation, Japan, by having its first biomass steam plant here in

From left: Boilermech managing director Gan Chih Soon, Knight Frank Project Services director Joshua de Souza, Hasnoel, Nishimoto, Kaneka director and plant general manager Syed Ahmad Syed Idrus Alhabshi, Kaneka deputy division head, (engineering and maintenance division) Saiful Adlee Othman and BIMB commercial client solutions director Ahmad Haliman Abdul Halim.

YTL Power actively traded as share price posts 5% weekly gain

Top stock warrants by volume traded: Warrant Volume Issuer Exercise

futures started the week on a strong note, clocking three positive days in a row ahead of inflation readings before retreating 0.4% on Thursday. The rally resumed on Friday (+1.1%) on the back of rising expectations of a US Federal Reserve rate cut this week as US consumer inflation for August came in largely within expectations. With the gain in the previous week, HSI-CWI2, HSI-CWKC and HSI CWIM were the top-traded call warrants by volume, with a total of 647.4 million, 532.4 million and 118.5 million units changing hands. Other than that, investors also traded the HSI put warrants, notably HSI-PWJZ and HSI-PWLA, which registered 555.1 million and 390.7 million units traded respectively. Further, trading activity over

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Expiry date

TURNOVER on the local warrants market last week came in at RM660.5 million, which represents a 83.8% week-on-week (w-o-w) surge, in view of the shortened trading period before that due to the Merdeka Day replacement holiday on Sept 1 and the birthday of Prophet Muhammad public holiday on Sept 5. Further, turnover in trading over the Hang Seng Index (HSI) warrants for the week to Sept 12 was 93.7% higher, at RM555.4 million. With that, trading over HSI warrants continued to comprise a majority of the turnover for the week, at 84.1% of the total. HSI September futures saw a bullish week, closing 3.9% higher. The

name

(mil) 647.4 555.1 532.4 390.7 118.5

level

HSI-CWI2 HSI-PWJZ HSI-CWKC HSI-PWLA HSI-CWIM

Kenanga Kenanga Macquarie Macquarie Macquarie

30,000 22,000 30,000 22,000 31,000

27 Nov 2025 27 Nov 2025 27 Nov 2025 27 Nov 2025 30 Oct 2025

Other than that, warrants over Hong Kong-listed Xiaomi Corporation and Pop Mart International saw upticks in trading activity, among others. Xiaomis share price jumped 2.8%, recording a third consecutive week of gain while Pop Mart’s share price plunged 10.6% last week. Call warrants XIAOMI-C38 and POPMART C3 were among the top traded

Malaysian stock warrants also ensued, with investors actively trading warrants over YTL Power International as the stock clocked a 5% gain last week. YTLPOWR-C77 and YTLPOWR C95 were the most actively traded warrants over this underlying, recording 13.2 million and 12.2 million units changing hands respectively.