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Term of Reference
1.0 Introduction
This project entitled Production of Stearic Acid Plant at Bukit Raja, Klang, Selangor
(hereinafter referred to as Project). This Project covers a latitude coordinate of 3.0952680000
and longitude of 101.5353630000. the location is surrounded by palm oil plantation and have
advantageous position that is bounded by Klang Valley's main highway which are Federal
Highway, North Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) and South Klang Highway. The Selangor
State Government has gazette the site as an industrial zone in Klang that allow construction of
chemical plant.
The Project would involve the design, supply, construction and installation of stearic acid
production plant.
1.1 Statutory Requirement
Production of stearic acid plant is one of the activities subject to EIA and is prescribed
under item 8(a) of Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities)(Environmental Impact
Assessment) Order, 1987 under powers conferred by Section 34A of the Environmental Quality
Act, 1974. Hence, to fulfil the above requirement, a Detailed Environment Impact Assessment
(DEIA) study is needed to conduct this Project. The report to be submitted and approved by the
board of director before any progress can be made.
1.2 Scope of EIA
The scope of EIA of this Project is to assess the environmental impacts of the proposed
project activities and to prepare environmental management plans (EMP) to address the
impacts and further to integrate EMP into the project design.
The EIA addresses all aspects of pre-construction, construction, commissioning, and
operational stages, as indicated in the guideline document. Since the site is already for chemical
production industries, the is no requirement to conduct preliminary EIA under components of
hazards to rare, endemic or endangered species, effects on natural habitat, effects on
ecology(flora and fauna) and filling impacts.
1.3 Project Proponent
Sime Darby Plantation Sdn. Bhd is the project proponent for this Project. The contact
details of the appropriate and contact person to whom enquiries regarding EIA should be
directed is as below:
Address: Sime Darby Plantation Sdn Bhd
Main Block, Level 3,
Plantation Tower
No.2, Jalan PJU 1A/7
Ara Damansara
47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: (603) 7848 4000
Fax: (603) 7848 4172
Contact Person: Ir. Radhi Zikrullah B. Rais Faqrullah
Email :radhi@simedarbyplantation.com

2.0 List of Consultants/Study Team

Name
Team Leader
Mohd Hisyamuddin Bin Mohd
Aminudin(Ir.)
Tel.No: 017-3874690
Email:syam@ecorangers.com

Qualification

Socioeconomics environment Team

manager
Muhammad Saifullah B Saffiee (Dr.)
Tel.No: 012-9478239
Email:saif@ecorangers.com

Waste Management Team Manager

Nor Amirul Asyraff B Aminuddin
(Assoc.Prof)
Tel.No: 013-7659876
Email:asyraff@ecorangers.com

Feasibility Studies Team Manager

Siti Zulaikha Bt Husin (Prof.Datin)
Tel.No:011-11110302
Email:siti@ecorangers.com

Geo-technology Team Manager

Abdul Salam B. Abdul Mubin
(Tn.Hj.Prof)
Tel.No:019-2676542
Email:salamubin@ecorangers.com

B. Eng (Hons)
Chemical and
Process
MSc Chemical
Engineering,
PhD
(Environmental
Engineering)
B.A.(Economics
and Geography),
M.A.(Transport
Studies),
PhD(Transport
Studies)
B.Sc (Chemical
Engineering),
M.Sc
(Environmental
Pollution Control)
PhD (Waste
Management
Studies)
B.Eng (Chemical
and Materials),
M.Sc
(Environmental
Science)
B.Sc (Applied
Geology)
M.Tech
(Environmental
Management)

Area of Study

Chemical
Processes and
Simulation
Petrochemical
Refinery Safety

Experience

General
Environmental
Management
Sosioeconomic
s Impact

Solid Waste
Management
Wastewater

Water Quality
Air Quality
Noise &
Vibration

Geology
Ecological
Studies

Member of consultant for Sabah

Ammonium and Urea (SAMUR) project
under Petronas.
Member of consultant for Pulau Indah
Plastics Factory project under Top Glove
Sdn. Bhd.
Environmental Team Manager for Ethylene
Marine Facilities project under Petronas.
Advisor for Kg. Baru Economic Plan
Development project under Dewan
Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL).
Member of consultant for Shah Alam
Uptown project under Majlis Bandaraya
Shah Alam.
Waste Management Team Manager for
Centralised Sludge Treatment Facility at
Klang project under Indah Water
Konsortium.
Member of consultant for Centralised
Sewage Treatment Plant under Syarikat
Bekalan Air Selangor (SYABAS).
Member of consultant for Pendang Paddy
Field Development project under Majlis
Perbandaran Pendang.
Team Manager for Sabah Oil Refinery
Facility project under Shell.
Team Manager for Bukit Raja Shopping
Mall project under Majlis Perbandaran
Klang.
Member of consultant for
Polytetrafluoroethylene Production Plant
project under Petronas.

Declaration

3.0 Statement of Need

It has been established that there is a basic need for the Project to be implemented. This
deduction is based on the Project`s ability to bring many positive and beneficial environmental
and socio-economic impacts.
Stearic acid is mainly used in the production of detergents, soaps, and cosmetics such as
shampoos and shaving cream products. Stearic acid is used along with castor oil for preparing
softeners in textile sizing. Being inexpensively available and chemically benign, stearic acid
finds many niche applications. It is used in the manufacture of candles, and as a hardener in
candies when mixed with simple sugar and corn syrup. Dietary supplements are used using
stearic acid. As can be seen here, stearic acid bring many good things that can benefit mankind.
By having this Project in Malaysia, it will help increase the country earning by fulfilling the
stearic acid demand. Besides that, this Project will provide employment opportunities for local
people thus increasing their lifestyle. By implementing this Project, it will also introduce new
technology in production industry thus bring a good impression about Malaysia to the world.
4.0 Project Description
4.1 Process Description
Stearic acid is a chemical compound consisting of 18 carbon chain where by a single
bond; the terminal bond is connected to an oxygen atom with a double bond and a hydroxyl
group (OH). This chemical is not hazardous to the environment also human and be used in
making soap, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc.
Emery-based processes are used to produce stearic acid from the vegetable oils. The
processes consist of three main processes which are hydrolysis, fractionation, and
hydrogenation. Hydrolysis takes place in a pressure splitter column to separate the fatty acids
from the vegetable oils. Palm oil is used as raw material. The top products from hydrolysis are
mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids meanwhile the bottom product is the sweet
water. Sweet water is the mixture of glycerol and water. Then, the mixture of fatty acids will
undergo fractionation process in several distillation columns to extract oleic acid. Hydrogenation
process requires oleic acid and hydrogen gas to produce stearic acid.
The wastes from this production mostly can be sold as by-products instead of disposing
them. Disposing them without treating can cause severe incidents. For example, high
concentration of glycerol can react with nitric and sulfuric acid to get an extremely unstable form
of nitroglycerin. Thus, to gain additional profits, both sweet water and fatty acids can be treated
to get the by-products to be sold to any interested party. The fatty acids will pass through
distillation columns to get high purity of palmitic acid and linoleic acid. Sweet water will flow into
evaporators to remove water by applying evaporation process. Thus, the water removed will be
collected in a reservoir before disposing it to the river.
4.2 Project Options
4.2.1 Options for Waste Treatment System In Stearic Acid Plant
The establishment of stearic acid production facility will help the meet the needs of
stearic acid in the country by reducing the import quantity of stearic acid. By installing the
wastewater treatment system it can help to reduce any hazard treats to the environment and
human. The main factors that influence the selection is its proven effective, environmentally
friendly, cost-effectiveness, operational efficiency and simple design.

4.2.2 Options Without Project

Options Without Project refers to the disposing the wastewater from the stearic acid
production without treating it that can cause negative impacts to the environment and human
health.
4.3 Project Schedule
Activity

Year
1

Cleaning
the
base
and
constructing
foundation
Engineering
works and
structures
Mechanical
and
electrics
Installation
of
equipment
and
machinery
Operation
and
maintenanc
e
Managemen
t
and
closing

10

11

12

13

4.4 Process Flow Diagram

5.0

Project Location
The selection of site location is a very important part to start-up this Stearic Acid Plant.
There are several criteria should be considered during the site location selection including
land availability, geologic and hydrogeology condition, climatologic condition, local
environmental condition and ultimate use of site. A studies have been conducted to select the
most suitable and strategic site location for the Stearic Acid Plant. After considering those
criteria, Bukit Raja Industrial Park have been proposed as the potential site location for the
Stearic Acid Plant.
Bukit Raja Industrial Park is an industrial park located in Bandar Bukit Raja, Klang,
Selangor and lies on latitude coordinate of 3.0952680000 and longitude of 101.5353630000.
The industrial development sits upon freehold land and situated on flat ground. It surrounded
by palm oil plantation and have advantageous position that is bounded by Klang Valley's
main highway which are Federal Highway, North Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) and
South Klang Highway. The park is also within short driving distance to Bandar Baru Klang,
where many amenities can be found.
Furthermore it is in close proximity to factories, housing estates, colleges and
university. The nearest neighbourhood is Desa Alam and Cahaya Alam. According to the data
from Klang Municipal Council, the industrial park covers about 1000 total hectars and only

40% of level of development. Figure below shows the satellite map of proposed project
location.

Figure 1: Satelite map of proposed location

5.1 Description of Existing Environment / Baseline Environmental Quality

This section will discuss the features of the physical, biological and socio-economic
environment relevant to the proposed project and associated infrastructure. A description of
the existing environment is required to provide the necessary baseline data for evaluation of
the physical, biological and socio-economic impacts and for the formulation of environmental
management plan and monitoring programme.
Topographical and Physical Characteristics
The existing topographical and physical characteristics of the proposed Stearic Acid Plant
site location will be made from field investigations and secondary sources including the
topographical maps from the Lands and Surveys Department, Department of Survey and
Mapping Malaysia, aerial photographs and details from previous studies provided by the
Project Proponent and their consultants. The proposed site is located in Bukit Raja Industrial
Park and situated on ground flat.
Geology and Soils
The overall project proposal is located on a layer of fine, homogeneous igneous rock coarsegrained acid igneous intrusion. Soil profile is a layer of silt mixed with sand and gravel with
varying amounts. Most of topsoil contains fine sand and muddy fine sand mixed with
decayed organic matter.
Hydrology and Drainage
A regional hydrology map of the Bukit Raja Industrial Park area is shown in figure 2 below.
The existing maps and information combined with satellite imagery and field investigations
will be reviewed and analysed to provide a description of the local and regional hydrology
condition. From the illustrated maps, it shows there is no existing river neared the proposed
project location. However, there is several lakes or dams around the area nearly to the
proposed project location. Any discharges from the plant and surface runoff via the surface
drain surrounding the area and was channelled into the nearest lakes.

Figure 2: Hydrology map of Bukit Raja Industrial Park

Water Quality
Water quality sampling should be conducted at all the existing lakes and drain near to the
proposed project site. From the sampling, an analysis will be performed to identify the quality
of water whether it contains contaminant or polluted or not. The sampling of water quality
should be conducted in both surface water and ground water.
Air Quality
Air quality should be conducted at three locations which is nearest to the site of the proposed
project. The selected locations for the air quality sampling are Bandar Baru Klang, Desa
Alam and Cahaya Alam. Due to the proposed project site is located in a relatively isolated
area, thus monitoring results should be the parameters are indicate in the range of Malaysian
Air Quality Guidelines.

Noise
Noise levels at the project site are dominated by the surf noise. Further inland, the noise
levels are mainly determined either by the number of vehicles or the noise emission from
stacks. During construction, piling activity is the main noise source which can create an
annoyance. Transportation involving heavy vehicles along the coastal road will increase the
noise level at the area.
6.0 Potential Environment Impact
This section will provide the reader the potential impact and correspending migitation
measures on the various way it can harm the environment. Most of the potential impact
sources from construction phase and operational phase.
6.1 Construction Phase
Activites from coustruction phase mainly give insignificant impact or short term effect to the
environment. The impact that may be arose and migitation measure are as stated below:

6.1.1Physical and Chemical

A) Air quality
Emission from the vehicles during the construction phase, fugitive wind blown
dust.
B) Noise
Noise due to construction and transportation activities during day and night.
C) Water quality
Water pollution mainly produce from maintenance of machinery and
equipment, sewage waste and disposal construction.
D) Solid waste
Impact of waste generation from construction phase.
E) Land use
Impact on land use pattern, road network and environmentally sensitive place.
Impact on drainage system and soil erosion
Loss of productive soil and impact on natural drainage pattern.
Impact of construction activity on the fertility status of the soil.
Increase the traffic congestion due to the movement of vehicles in and out from
the construction area.
6.1.2

Socio-economic

A) Occupational Health and Safety

Any incident that arise from the construction area.

6.2
Operation Phase
The impact from the operational phase are typically significant and naturally govern in long term.
However, with proper maintenance and operation procedures in place, the generated impacts
can be controlled and minimized
Possible activities which are able to cause negative impacts to environment if not properly
controlled or monitored are:
A) Splitting process of palm oil at splitting column
-

Leakage of by product such as glycerine and contaminated water at the bottom of

column

B) Glycerine treatment at evaporators after splitting process

-

Odour generation

Noise generation

C) Contaminated water treatment at evaporators after splitting process

-

Odour generation

Noise generation

D) Fatty acid moist reduction process at evaporator before distillation process

-

Contaminated steam

Noise generation

Odour generation

E) Contaminated water due to affluent, wash water and cooling water discharge, and
seepage from storage and waste tanks
-

Poor effluent quality will affect the receiving water quality (Sungai Klang)

F) Discharge of effluent with high temperature

-

Effluent with temperature that higher than recipient water bodies will generate
thermal pollution to the receiving water quality (Sungai Klang)

G) Hydrogenation process of Oleic acid at hydrogenation reactor during final stage of

production
-

Potential hydrogen gas emission into atmosphere during the hydrogenation process

H) Soil, surface water and/or groundwater contamination

I)

Inappropriate disposal of solid wastes resulting from plant process such as

unrecyclable by-product and effluent will affect the soil and groundwater

Changes in local traffic

-

Heavy truck and cargos circulation potentially will cause traffic jam

J) Waste management activities

-

Inappropriate management in activities such as waste transfer, handling and storage

potentially to cause dangers to workers and workplace.

K) Operational failure and abnormal conditions

-

Explosion and fire

Odour generation

Noise pollution

Poor effluent quality will affect the receiving water quality

L) Socio economic
-

Local people felt unsafe and danger for the movement of heavy vehicles (truck) to
the plant.

Migrant of foreign workers to the plant would be a social threat to the local
population.

Perception of air quality, pollution and water pollution will cause health problems to
them.

The positive impact from the operational phase however are:

M) Job opportunities to local residents and UITM Shah Alam graduates
N) Business opportunities to locals
O) Answering the RMK-10 and along with that it will provide potential further Malaysias
economy growth.
P) Thrusting Malaysia forward as Stearic Acid supplier along with the identity as a country
that implementing Clean Production (CP)

7.0 Mitigation Measure:

7.1 Construction Phase:
1. All temporary raod should be paved with gravel.
2. Cover the soil stockpiles to reduce the dust.
3. Preserve the existing tree and vegetation as the site boundaries.
4. Construction phase should be limited from 7.00 a.m to 10.00 p.m.
5. Every equipment and machinery are attached with noise absorber.
6. Any grease and oil from the maintenace must not be thrown into the grove and any
spillage should be cleaned immediately.
7. Water conservation within the building.
8. Rainwater harvesting to recharge the ground water.
9. Adequate measures to be adopted for water conservation during construction.
10. All acces road bust be wetted to minimize the dust spread.
11. Management and disposal of temporary stuructures made during construction
phase need to be adressed.

12. Temporary waste storage for chemical and biomedical waste.

13. Improve road network infrastructure to handle the increase in traffic.
14. Top soil conservation plan and its re-utilization depending on its quality.
15. The project will be managed according to Occupational Health and Safety
Regulation (OSHA) in order to reduce the likehood of accidents and work related
illness on the job as well as accidents occuring between construction-related
equipment and slocal vehicles.
7.2 Operation Phase:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

Plant will be operated at optimum efficiency to avoid nuisance odour generation

Adequate buffer zone and proper landscape to be provided
Effluent quality will be monitored regularly to ensure that discharge effluent comply to the
DOE regulation guideline for standard B
Acoustic treatment by enclose of equipment by enclosure of equipment or soundproofing
building that hold loud equipment.
High temperature effluent will be cooled before discharge
Area for storing and handling of raw materials and products should be waterproofed and
have a drainage system so that any spill and wash water can be directed to treatment
Provide cover to all tanks which has the potential to generate odorous gas
Due to nature of hydrogen gas, possible treatment method such as flare will be
implemented
Hydrogenation reactor will operate at optimum efficient and usage of better catalyst such
as Palladium (Pd) will be implemented.
Form a special committee to identify any raised issues from local resident and at the same
time the committee will as recruiter to recruit local people working at the plant.
Accessibility and road system conditions must be assessed during feasibility syudies,
selecting the best routes to reduce impact and risk of accidents.
Adequate Emergency Respond Plan (ERP) in case of any accident happen.
Adequate personnel protective equipment (PPE) will be provided to all staff working at the
plant.
All operation staff will have to adhere to the Eco-Rangers Standard Operation Procedure
(SOP) and safety manual when performing operational and maintenance works.

8.0 Conclusion
The proposed of Production of Stearic Acid Plant in Kawasan Perindustrian Bukit Raja,
Klang, Selangor is really needed as the expectation of increasing demand of Stearic Acid in Asia
especially Malaysia. This is due to versatility of Stearic Acid as raw material that essentially to
be used in any production sector such as pharmacy, lubricant, cosmetic, food and beverage and
many more.
The development of this plant itself will comply to the demand in Malaysia parallel with
the fast growing industrial sectors in this country. This plant development answering the RMK-10
and along with that it will provide potential further Malaysias economy growth. Apart from that,
that plant will open the job opportunities to local residents and UITM Shah Alam graduates.
From the assessment of the impacts pertaining to the project implementation and the
mitigating measure of each impact, it can be concluded that the development of the plant will
not impose any adverse long term impact to environment. If fact, this development will thrusting
Malaysia forward as Stearic Acid supplier along with the identity as a country that implementing
Clean Production (CP).