AN APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING OIL PALM FRUIT COMPRISING A CONTAINER (10) HAVING A WALL, THE CONTAINER (10) COMPRISING: AT LEAST ONE STEAM INLET (11) AND AT LEAST TWO MANIFOLDS (12) INSIDE THE CONTAINER (10) IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE AT LEAST ONE STEAM INLET (11), THE AT LEAST TWO MANIFOLDS (12) BEING ATTACHED TO AN INNER SURFACE (24) OF THE WALL AND BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER, WHEREIN THE AT LEAST TWO MANIFOLDS (12) EACH COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF STEAM OUTLETS (12A) FOR DISTRIBUTING STEAM IN THE CONTAINER (10).