Industry players urged to increase biodiesel usage

PORT KLANG: The country’s industry players, especially the transportation and manufacturing sectors, are urged to increase the use of biodiesel towards making the B10 (10 per cent methyl ester from palm oil and 90 per cent petroleum diesel) programme a success.

Primary Industries Minister, Teresa Kok said a proactive measure was necessary to ensure continuous usage of biodiesel as an alternative fuel to petroleum diesel.

“The government is currently working towards making the B10 programme a success in the transportation sector through collaborations with interested parties, such as FGV ( Felda Global Berhad).

“And through the consultation session held last Aug 1 with automobile producers, manufacturers’associations such as the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) and petroleum companies, I found that many quarters are still not confident of the use of B10.”

The minister said this to reporters after launching the ‘FGV-Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) Initiative in Driving Use of B10’ here yesterday.

Also present were FGV Holdings group president and chief executive officer Datuk Zakaria Arshad and MPOB chairman Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Ventures Holdings Salleh.

Kok said from the feedback received, the ministry would also draw up the biodiesel implementation plan aimed at increasing biodiesel usage towards making the country’s palm oil industry sustainable.

“Malaysia as a major palm oil producer plays an important role in ensuring that palm oil is well accepted globally, including its use as a fuel.

“I understand that the FGVMPOB B10 usage project started in October 2017 and FGV’s initiative in using B10 could be a good example to oil palm plantation companies in encouraging its use,” she added. — Bernama