EXIM Bank Malaysia has become the first financial institution in the country to support a certified carbon sink initiative, after its collaborative Carbon Sink (C-Sink) project with Wild Asia Sdn Bhd was awarded certification under Carbon Standards International (CSI). The certification, audited by accredited verifier CERES (Certification of Environmental Standards), confirms the project’s compliance with stringent global requirements for verified carbon removals.
Valid until 31 December 2026, the certification allows the issuance of C-Sink Carbon Removal Credits, each representing permanent and measurable carbon sequestration. The project relies on artisanal biochar production—a nature-based solution that locks carbon into soil for centuries while boosting soil fertility, strengthening crop resilience and supporting smallholder livelihoods.
At the core of the initiative is Wild Asia’s Centralised BIO Transformation Unit (CBTU) model, where local farmers in Sabah use Kontiki kilns to convert palm oil residues into biochar through pyrolysis. This decentralised approach transforms agricultural waste into a climate asset, reducing methane emissions while generating internationally tradable carbon credits.
In August 2025, the project issued its first seven verified credits, with capacity expected to rise to 100 annually. Each CBTU removes up to 200 tonnes of CO₂ per year—a figure projected to increase to 300 tonnes by 2027—while directly supporting smallholders and ensuring carbon revenue remains in local communities.
Datuk Nurbayu Kasim Chang, President and Chief Executive of EXIM Bank Malaysia, described the certification as “a major step forward in our commitment to sustainability and innovation,” adding that the model “empowers smallholder farmers, creates green jobs and builds a regenerative future for agriculture.”
Wild Asia founder Dr Reza Azmi said the recognition validated “years of work to build a farmer-centred model for carbon removal,” calling the initiative “carbon removal with integrity, rooted in local knowledge and global standards.”
The project supports Malaysia’s pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, in line with the 13th Malaysia Plan. It also advances the National Biomass Action Plan 2023–2030, which promotes biochar as a key pathway in the country’s low-carbon transition.
EXIM Bank’s RM1.5 billion Green Sustainability-Linked Financing programme complements the C-Sink initiative, signalling the bank’s wider commitment to regenerative finance and community-driven climate solutions.
