The government aims for the use of Biodiesel or B5 to reach 500,000 tonnes monthly by the end of 2012, said Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Hamzah Zainudin.
He said this goal would be achieved with the rising use of B5 among diesel vehicle owners.
“The B5 programme which has been implemented since last June, is widespread in the Central region of Peninsular Malaysia, that is Putrajaya, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
“The implementation of B5 in the Central Region, involves 1,150 petrol stations with an estimated use of 6,587 tonnes or 7.6 million litres of palm oil biodiesel monthly, mixed with diesel,” said Hamzah after officiating the launch of the B5 programme in Selangor and commemorating the B5 programme in the Central region here today.
He also said the current usage of B5 in the Central Region will indirectly reduce diesel use by almost 91.2 million litres annually.
“From 2012, the Ministry will work hard to expand the programme throughout the country, and increase the number of petrol stations that cater for biodiesel more aggressively.
“The government is also studying the possibility of introducing the B5 to fishermen throughout the country next year,” Hamzah said.
Asked about the possibility of the programme being introduced to Sabah and Sarawak, he said the government is looking into this and there is a possibility of it being extended to the states after Peninsular Malaysia.
“Maybe in early 2013, the government, will determine all the factors for B5 to be introduced there.
“The distance between petrol stations in Sabah and Sarawak is a key issue in introducing the product there, as the rise in costs and transport needs to be taken into consideration,” he added.
