B10 implementation within this year: Minister

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) aims to implement the usage of B10 biodiesel within this year, said its minister, Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.
He said discussions with various parties are ongoing and the ministry has received a lot of feedback.
“We have met carmakers, petrol station operators and I think we will have a few more meetings,” he said at the launch of MyHawker app here yesterday.
He said the ministry will study and address the concerns raised at the meetings.
Earlier reports said the implementation of B10 biodiesel (blending of 10% palm methyl ester with 90% petroleum diesel) in Malaysia was delayed due to inadequate data. The current blending mandate is at 7%.
Mah said the implementation of B10 is significant as it will help reduce the palm oil stockpile in the country and increase the crude palm oil price.
On another development, Mah said the Malaysian Palm Oil Board and its Indonesian counterpart will set up a council of palm oil-producing countries which will start operations in the next two weeks.
He said both countries produce 85% of the world’s palm oil and, with the council, coherent action and promotion strategy can be carried out.
Among the issues to be discussed are the debate over tariffs on palm oil in France, strengthening of exports and health and sustainability issues.
Malaysia and Indonesia will also make joint efforts to counter the anti-palm oil campaigns by certain quarters to paint a bad image of the commodity on international markets. – Bernama