Citaglobal Berhad (“Citaglobal” or “the Group”) is extending its environment business into blue carbon through a collaboration to assess and, where commercially viable, develop mangrove carbon projects in Pahang, Malaysia, and Lampung, Indonesia. Its subsidiary, Citaglobal Environment Management Sdn Bhd (“CGEM”), signed a Memorandum of Business Exploration (“MoBE”) with Kitaran Tabah Sdn Bhd (“Kitaran Tabah”) on 4 November 2026.
The move builds on the Group’s waste-to-energy engineering capabilities through Germany’s LAWI Engineering GmbH and its bio-compressed natural gas (“bio-CNG”) development with Keppel. It opens a further avenue for CGEM to apply its project development and stakeholder engagement capabilities, supporting the ambition set out by Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Mohamad Norza Zakaria, Executive Chairman and President of Citaglobal, to build the environment business into a key player in Southeast Asia.
In blue carbon, the commercial opportunity comes from verified climate outcomes achieved by conserving threatened mangroves and restoring degraded areas. Revenue from the resulting carbon credits can help sustain conservation and restoration while supporting coastal livelihoods. The collaboration is intended to bring these elements together.
CGEM will lead site identification and access, engagement with landholders, communities and government, and applications for the necessary permits and approvals. Kitaran Tabah will lead the carbon development process, from feasibility and methodology selection through project design, quantification and monitoring to engagement with carbon standards, independent verifiers and prospective buyers. It draws on its affiliation with Tabah Asia Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian-based developer with blue carbon projects across the region and co-author of Cercarbono’s blue carbon methodology for coastal wetlands.
The initial focus on Pahang and Lampung connects this collaboration to geographies where Citaglobal is already pursuing environmental infrastructure opportunities. In Pahang, the Group is advancing waste-to-energy and bio-CNG development, while in Lampung it established a green infrastructure feasibility framework with the provincial government in May 2026. Feasibility work under the MoBE will assess potential mangrove sites, including their suitability, land tenure, carbon rights and relevant local counterparties. The parties will also separately assess the carbon credit potential of a bio-CNG asset.
Thye Chee How, CEO of Citaglobal Environment Management, said:
“Blue carbon calls for disciplines our environment business already practises: choosing the right sites, earning the trust of communities and authorities, and being clear about rights before committing capital. Kitaran Tabah brings the carbon expertise and market relationships to turn suitable mangrove areas into credible projects. We will be selective, taking forward only projects where carbon rights are clear and the commercial case is sound.”
Akhramsyah Sanusi, Director of Kitaran Tabah, said:
“Pahang and Lampung both have mangrove areas where conservation and restoration can make a real difference to the coastline and the people who depend on it. Kitaran Tabah, an affiliate of Tabah Asia, brings hands on experience in developing mangrove carbon projects, and we will work alongside CGEM at every stage to deliver credits that meet international certification standards and that host governments can authorise with confidence. We look forward to working with CGEM, the relevant authorities and local communities in both countries to move these projects forward.”
The MoBE was signed by Thye and Akhramsyah in the presence of Tan Sri Norza.
