Palm oil to power explosives as UPNM, K-Tech seek to cut defence import reliance

KUALA LUMPUR: Palm oil could soon play a role in the production of explosives and ammunition under a strategic partnership between Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) and Ketech Asia Sdn Bhd aimed at reducing Malaysia’s reliance on imported defence supplies.

The partnership was formalised through a memorandum of agreement (MoA) signed in conjunction with the University Research, Innovation and Investment Summit (URIIS) 2026, organised by the Higher Education Ministry today.

The signing was witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir.

Under the collaboration, UPNM’s locally developed technology involving palm oil-based innovations for the production of explosives and ammunition will be commercialised and scaled up from laboratory-stage Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 to TRL 8/9, which represents technology approaching market-ready and full-scale production.

UPNM vice-chancellor Lt Gen Datuk Wira Arman Rumaizi Ahmad said moving the technology from laboratory research to market readiness would require investment, access to specialised testing facilities and expertise recognised by both local and international industries.

He said the partnership would facilitate full-scale prototype fabrication, field testing and standards certification for dual-use technologies in a more structured and sustainable manner.

At the event, Zahid and Zambry also visited the Defence, Strategy and Security Technology Cluster exhibition, where UPNM showcased various innovations developed by the university that are ready for commercialisation.

UPNM said developing explosives from local bio-based resources such as palm oil demonstrated the ability of public university researchers to optimise domestic resources to strengthen the country’s strategic supply chain, while potentially creating high-skilled jobs, reducing import dependence and strengthening the readiness of defence and security agencies.

The URIIS 2026 serves as a platform to strengthen the “Triple Helix” model, bringing together government policy, university research capabilities and industry investment to ensure research funding translates into economic value, national security and strategic sovereignty.