Malaysia’s Minister of Plantation and Raw Products, Datuk Seri Zohari Abdul Ghani, recently said the government is pushing for a transition from B10 to B20 palm-based biodiesel at the nation’s ports in support of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets – to reduce GDP-based emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 and to realize a net zero carbon emissions.
Launching a pilot program for the use of B20 in ground service vehicles at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Zohary noted that the policy not only promotes a green energy transition, but also strengthens Malaysia’s position as the world’s second largest palm oil producer. He said: “In the future, we hope that major ports such as Penang Port, Port Klang and Tanjong Parapas Port will also fully adopt B20 biodiesel. We are in the process of collecting data on operating costs for subsequent rollout.”
The pilot project is a collaboration between the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), PETRONAS Dagangan, Malaysia Airports Holdings (MAHB) and Syarikat Teras Kembang, with PETRONAS Dagangan as the fuel supplier, MAHB as the airport operator and Teras Kembang is responsible for the management of the fuel refueling station.
Zohary emphasized that the introduction of B20 biodiesel for the first time in the industrial sector marks a key step in Malaysia’s drive towards sustainable energy development, as B20, which is a blend of 20% Palm Methyl Ester (PME) and 80% petroleum diesel, has the potential to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to the country’s low-carbon future.
