Malaysia’s B20 Biodiesel Plan Still On

The government intends to continue with its much-delayed effort to implement the B20 biodiesel program nationwide, the edgemarkets.com reported last month citing Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin. The latest nationwide implementation date for the B20 biodiesel mandate, which has so far only been rolled out in Sarawak, Labuan and Langkawi, is at end-2022. 

Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Zuraida said Covid-19 has caused delays in the upgrading works for biodiesel blending facilities depots due to the limitations in workforce movement from petroleum companies to provide the technical preparations for the depots involved. Early preparation for the upgrade of the depots has been completed, comprising design, engineering, and assessment works, Zuraida said, adding that the Ministry of Finance has approved RM35 million in allocation for the front-end engineering design. 

Malaysia has seen several delays in the expansion of the B20 biodiesel program into Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, currently set at end-2022. It was initially scheduled for implementation in June 2021 but was postponed to early 2022 before the latest delay confirmed in June this year. The country has implemented a B10 biodiesel program for the transportation sector, as well as B7 biodiesel for the industry since 2019.