Malaysia’s B10 Biodiesel Program to be Tabled in Cabinet by Year-End

Malaysia’s Primary Industries Ministry is preparing a paper on the country’s B10 Biodiesel program to be tabled in the Cabinet by year-end, a Bernama report said last week.  Minister Teresa Kok said the biodiesel program would be able to help oil palm smallholders address falling palm oil prices.  B10 Biodiesel is produced from a mix of 10 percent palm oil methyl ester and 90 percent diesel.

“The government cannot afford the subsidies (for the smallholders) and one way to increase the use of palm oil is through the biodiesel program,” Kok said.  “In Indonesia, palm-based fuel programs have managed to help smallholders there. Therefore I feel that Malaysia can take the same approach,” she told reporters after a discussion with agribusiness firm Wilmar Trading Pte Ltd.