Primary Industries Minister, Teresa Kok (left) does a gimmick launch of the FGV Initiative – MPOB In Leadership Use of B10 at Felda Transport Services Sdn Bhd, Pandamaran Industrial Estate. – Bernama photo
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 Ventures Holdings 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 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 FGV-MPOB 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.
Meanwhile, Zakaria said FGV and MPOB had conducted research on comprehensive usage of B10 since August, last year through the logistics division before extending it to their respective plantation and manufacturing sectors.
He said up to the end of August this year, FGV’s logistics division had used 91,536 litres of B10 for a distance of 172,932 kilometres, while in its plantation and manufacturing operations, the B10 usage amounted to 26,347 litres and 59,077 litres respectively.
“During this period, no technical issues were reported and the scientific research through MPOB also showed positive results. We will continue with the research until this October to ensure that the data obtained are consistent and comprehensive,” he said. – Bernama