KUCHING: All fuel stations throughout the state are expected to sell B7 biodiesel once the depot at Independence Oil Terminal (IOT) Kuching goes into full swing starting this September.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the RM12 million depot at IOT Kuching was currently operating at only 50 per cent.
He said the depot would operate fully starting this September, and by then, all stations in the state were expected to sell B7 biodiesel.
He told reporters after visiting the blending depot at IOT Kuching here yesterday that this was the fifth biodiesel blending facility and second biodiesel depot in the state.
“So far, we have five facilities to blend biodiesel in the state, namely two in Miri apart from one each in Bintulu, Tanjung Manis and here at IOT Kuching; and we expect that once the facility here operates fully in September, all stations throughout the state will be selling B7 biodiesel,” he said.
B7 is a blend of seven per cent palm oil biodiesel and 93 per cent petroleum diesel. It was introduced in Peninsular Malaysia in November last year and eventually introduced to some petrol kiosks in Sarawak.
He said Malaysia hoped to introduce B10 biodiesel – comprising 10 per cent palm oil biodiesel and 90 per cent petroleum diesel – by October this year, but the matter was being discussed among affected parties due to alleged incompatibility and warranty issues.
“At the moment, we are still waiting for feedback from various parties concerned before we can upgrade to B10 in a few months’ time,” he said.
He said the implementation would mean the country would require at least one million tonnes of crude palm oil for domestic consumption.
According to him, as of now, Sarawak was estimated to produce 71,000 metric tonnes of B7 with 175 petrol stations selling the commodity.
“Altogether, 3,198 kiosks are selling B7 biodiesel throughout the country, out of which 2,832 are in Peninsular Malaysia while Sabah and Sarawak have 191 and 175 petrol stations respectively”.