KUALA LUMPUR: The National B20 Biodiesel Programme for the transport sector, which is already underway in Langkawi and Labuan, will be expanded nationwide in June 2021, Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok Suh Sim said today.
She said the programme, which involves blending 20% palm methyl esters with 80% diesel, would also be extended to Sarawak in April and Sabah in August.
The implementation entails collaboration between the Ministry and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) with five local authorities, of which the Subang Jaya Municipal Council, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council and Shah Alam City Council have already conducted B20 field tests, she added.
She said vehicle manufacturers and distributors such as Tan Chong Industrial Equipment and Hyundai Sime Darby Motors and transport companies such as FGV Transport Services Sdn Bhd and SOP Transport Sdn Bhd had also conducted B20 trials.
“A total of 35 vehicles from the ministry and MPOB based in Putrajaya and the MPOB headquarters began using B20 in June 2019 without encountering any problems,” she said at the launch of the National B20 Biodiesel Programme for the transport sector by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at Dataran Merdeka here.
Kok said the ministry and MPOB would continue their collaboration with the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) in conducting a study on the B20 blend for Euro 5 vehicles with the cooperation of automotive experts from Mazda Malaysia and the Malaysian Institute of Robotic and IoT Automotive (Marii) with the support of the Road Transport Department and the Department of Environment.
“This study is the first conducted by JAMA on Euro 5 vehicles. It comprises a lab study at the Japan Automotive Research Institute (JARI), which is expected to be completed in April, and a field study using two Mazda CX-5 SUVs in Malaysia,” she added.
Kok said the success of the Malaysian Standards Department in developing two Malaysian Standards – ‘MS123-4: 2020 high PME diesel fuel – Specification – Euro 5M; and MS123-5: 2020 High PME diesel fuel – Specification-Euro 5′ – could boost consumer confidence besides becoming an industry guide and reference in supporting the implementation of the B20 biodiesel programme.
Meanwhile, Kok said in order to prepare Malaysia for future implementation of the B30 programme, the ministry and MPOB had also conducted research using biodiesel blends above B20.
“In support of the ministry’s efforts in spearheading biodiesel use and achieving low-carbon cities, Kuala Lumpur City Hall will launch B30 field tests with MPOB in June by providing 30 to 50 diesel vehicles,” she added.
Currently, the MPOB is conducting a B30 study with six universities – Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Universiti Teknikal Melaka, Universiti Kuala Lumpur and Universiti Nottingham Malaysia.
Dr Wan Azizah said the B20 programme is expected to provide sustainable support for palm oil demand, hence ensuring price stability for the commodity.
The increase in biodiesel blends could accelerate the growth of the country’s biodiesel industry while palm biodiesel mills could step up their production capacity to meet local market demand.
“Malaysia should also dare to double the use of the environmentally friendly biodiesel fuel to strengthen the country’s palm oil industry and economy.
“Continuous and sustainable development of the country’s oil palm industry will also help 650,000 smallholders who are in dire need of policies that will help them grow their economy,” she added.
Dr Wan Azizah said Malaysia’s oil palm plantations covering over six million hectares produce 20 million tonnes of palm oil annually and export to more than 160 countries, the industry providing employment to over three million people throughout its supply chain, including more than half a million smallholders nationwide. – Feb 20, 2020, Bernama
