KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 - More than 70 per cent of blending depots in Malaysia are ready to implement B15 biodiesel using existing facilities, following the government’s announcement to gradually increase the biodiesel blend.
Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the government has conducted meetings and site visits to assess the readiness of facilities to produce the B15 biodiesel blend.
“Findings from infrastructure inspections of blending depots by the Plantation and Commodities Ministry show that more than 70 per cent of blending depots in Malaysia are ready to implement B15 biodiesel using existing facilities.
“Operational adjustments are being developed by blending depots to ensure efficiency and the security of petroleum product supply to consumers,” he said during a daily briefing on the global supply crisis.
Akmal said he, along with Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad, visited the Klang Valley Distribution Terminal and observed the readiness of a biodiesel processing plant in Pulau Indah, Klang.
“This visit sends an important message that energy issues can no longer be viewed solely from the perspective of current supply.
“They must be addressed within a national framework that links energy security, the strength of the commodities sector, logistics efficiency, supply chain resilience and the country’s economic resilience,” he said.
Akmal said the visit allowed the government to assess the biodiesel ecosystem comprehensively, including feedstock production, blending capacity, operational efficiency of facilities and supply chain resilience.
Following the decision, the Economy Ministry and the Plantation and Commodities Ministry are coordinating with stakeholders on the biodiesel agenda.
On April 14, the government agreed to increase the biodiesel blend from B10 to B15, starting with B12, to safeguard the country’s diesel supply following the crisis in West Asia.
The move aims to reduce overreliance on imported fossil fuels and external markets, while supporting economic restructuring through an accelerated transition to renewable energy.