There is a target for bio-diesel use to go nationwide by 2014, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
The implementation could not be made sooner because there were not enough blending facilities for the alternative fuel.
“The in-line blending system for biodiesel currently involves six petroleum depots in the country,” Dompok told reporters after launching the B5 biodiesel programme for the central region at Jeti Bagan Pasir yesterday.
Dompok named Petronas Dagangan Berhad, Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd, Esso Malaysia Bhd, Chevron Malaysia Ltd and Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd as among the petroleum depots in the country.
B5 is a blend of 95 per cent regular petroleum-based diesel and 5 per cent palm methylester, which can be used in normal diesel engine vehicles without modification.
Dompok also said his ministry was study-ing ways to reduce the amount of regular diesel in biodiesel by increasing the use of palm methylester.
“We can increase the use of palm methylester in biodiesel by 10 per cent, 30 per cent or 50 per cent in the future after conducting research,” he said.
He also said that the Government had no intention on increasing the price of B5.
B5 is sold at the same price as regular diesel — RM1.80 per litre.
The B5 programme, first introduced in 2006, is being implemented in phases in the central region of Peninsular Malaysia since June 2011.
The central region covers Putrajaya, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
On the nation’s involvement in the use of B5, Dompok said it had put Malaysia on par with countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea.
“Just like these countries, we are also focusing on renewable energy, which means reducing greenhouse gases.
“Apart from reducing carbon emission, biodiesel also contains ingredients to improve engine performance,” he said.
