Our Jewel

Our Legacy and Operations in Carey Island

Established in 1889, Carey Island stands as a cornerstone of SD Guthrie’s (Guthrie) agricultural and industrial excellence. Guthrie owns 79% of Carey Island, spanning approximately 28,646 acres. The island is home to fully certified sustainable plantations, and supports a robust palm oil ecosystem, featuring two mills, a kernel crushing plant, and a biodiesel plant. The processed oil is supplied to Langat and Port Klang refineries, located near Carey Island. Guthrie also nurtures talent through the Golden Hope Academy, founded in 1994, which underscores its commitment to sustainable growth, innovation, and community development.

The Estates

Carey Island comprises of two estates, East and West, covering over 9,000 hectares of oil palm plantations. Both estates are certified to the Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standards, reflecting Guthrie’s enduring commitment to sustainable palm oil production. These estates stand as exemplary models of environmental stewardship and operational excellence, meeting international standards for responsible and sustainable oil palm plantations.
 

The East and West Estates are on flat terrain, which is one of the key factors in Carey Island’s ability to produce over 200,000 metric tonnes of some of the world’s highest quality certified sustainable palm oil. Their connectivity and proximity to the East and West Oil Mills within Carey Island itself is advantageous and enables fresh fruit bunches (FFB) to be transported swiftly.

East & West Oil Mills

Located in the heart of Carey Island, Guthrie’s East and West Oil Mills form the backbone of our palm oil processing operations. With a combined processing capacity of 80 metric tonnes per hour, these state-of-the-art facilities are capable of handling up to 480,000 metric tonnes of FFB annually.
 

Strategically positioned to support our surrounding estates, they play a vital role in ensuring the consistent production of high-quality crude palm oil while supporting Guthrie’s broader goals of innovation and responsible growth.

Kernel Crushing Plant (KCP)

SD Guthrie International Carey Island KCP Sdn Bhd (KCPCI) operates a modern Kernel Crushing Plant (KCP) with a capacity of 600 metric tonnes per day, commissioned in March 2011. The facility processes 100% RSPO and MSPO SCCS-certified palm kernels into high-quality Crude Palm Kernel Oil (CPKO), Palm Kernel Expeller (PKE), and Premium PKE.
 

Equipped with advanced infrastructure, including a tank farm, silo, and warehouse, KCPCI sources from 28 certified mills across Malaysia and 3 external mills, ensuring a fully traceable and sustainable supply chain.
 

Its products serve diverse industries, mainly CPKO for oleochemicals and food (cosmetics, confectionery, non-dairy creamers), and Premium PKE as feed for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture.
 

Biodiesel

The SD Guthrie International Biodiesel Plant has an annual processing capacity of 210,000 metric tonnes and includes a Feedstock Pre-Treatment Plant, Biodiesel Transesterification Plant, and an Esterification Plant (60,000 metric tonnes per year).
 

The plant produces Palm Methyl Ester (PME) for domestic use and a range of ISCC-certified biodiesel products for export, including UCOME, WME, and FWME, alongside valuable by-products like crude glycerin and Fatty Acid Distillates (FAD).
 

Supporting Malaysia’s B5, B7, and B10 blending mandates, the plant contributes to national carbon reduction goals and exports to Europe, China, and other global markets, reinforcing SD Guthrie’s leadership in renewable energy and circular economy practices.

Mechanisation Transformation Unit and Robotics Centre

The Mechanisation Transformation Unit and Robotics Centre was established in 2022. This Centre is dedicated to modernising estate operations through innovative mechanisation, automation, and digitalisation efforts, addressing key field challenges faced by our workers on the ground, and enhancing labour efficiency and improving the Land-to-Man Ratio.
 

Since the Centre’s inception, the Mechanisation Transformation Unit serves to accelerate the mechanisation adoption, developing a range of purpose-built machines tailored for oil palm plantations across Malaysia, while Robotics is the LEAP for unmanned operations. These ongoing innovations are a testament to Guthrie’s commitment to operational excellence, sustainability, and the future of plantation management.

Innovation Centre for Applications (ICA)

Established in 2016, the ICA plays a crucial role in supporting customers through technical expertise, product development, and process optimisation. ICA manages product specifications, develops new solutions, and enhances existing products to meet evolving market demands.
 

The centre also provides technical support to local refineries, helping to improve quality, efficiency, and process performance. A dedicated global technical account team supports key international customers, ensuring consistent innovation and harmonised product functionality across markets.
 

Equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories and food application facilities, ICA is designed to cater to the dynamic needs of our customers worldwide.

Ecogardens

SD Guthrie Ecogardens (Ecogardens), established in 2020, is a premier eco-tourism destination managed by Guthrie. Offering a unique blend of nature, heritage, and hospitality, it is the perfect retreat for families, nature enthusiasts, and corporate groups seeking meaningful outdoor experiences.
 

Visitors are welcome to explore the Plantation Museum, stay in charming colonial heritage bungalows, enjoy a round at the 18-hole Carey Island Golf Course, savour traditional dishes at Dapo Carey, and unwind with recreational facilities including cycling tracks, swimming pools, and tennis courts. The Biodiversity Park, spanning about 30 hectares, showcases rare and endangered tropical tree species.
 

With over 292,000 visitors to date across a variety of stakeholder groups such as students, corporate professionals, ambassadors, and more, Ecogardens continues to be a sought-after venue for events, film shoots, and the overall plantation experience.

Golden Hope Academy

Established in 1994 and ran by Ecogardens, Golden Hope Academy is a dedicated training centre designed to host a wide range of programmes and events. With the capacity to accommodate up to 800 guests at a time, Golden Hope Academy offers comprehensive facilities including comfortable accommodation, training, and meeting rooms, and a pre-order dine-in experience at Dapo Carey, its exclusive lounge, all of which are open to the public for bookings.

Biogas and Solar Rooftops

Carey Island is home to a significant renewable energy initiative through the development of a biogas plant, featuring a 1.56 MWe Biogas Engine at the West Oil Mill, in collaboration with Cenergi West Sdn Bhd. This project operates under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) business model, supporting the island’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions. The construction of this plant began on 1 March 2020 and achieved its Commercial Operation Date (COD) on 15 August 2021.
 

Beyond biogas, solar rooftops systems in Carey Island are implemented under the Net Energy Metering (NEM) scheme, enabling the export of excess solar energy to the national grid. Developed through the BOOT business model, the solar PV assets are owned and operated by external developers. The total solar rooftop capacity is 1063.19 kWp.

CAREY ISLAND

Learn more about
Carey Island, Malaysia's
sustainable palm oil hub.