The Malaysian government is setting a target for all its nationwide ports that currently use B10 palm-based biodiesel to switch to B20 biodiesel in their operations. This announcement was made by Plantations and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, reports Business Today.
Johari explained that this move is part of the country’s broader efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Malaysia aims to cut its emission intensity, relative to its economic output, by 45 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“In the future, I want to see every port, like Penang Port, Port Klang, Tanjung Pelepas Port, Johor Port, and Kuantan Port, start using B20 biodiesel,” he stated.
He informed reporters, after launching a pilot project for B20 biodiesel use in ground service vehicles and machinery at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) today, that the government is currently collecting data to determine the operational costs involved in this transition.
Johari mentioned that the government had already launched similar pilot projects for B20 biodiesel in Langkawi, Labuan, and Sarawak in 2020. The new initiative at KLIA for airport ground vehicles and machinery is intended to create a significant impact and drive national change towards using green energy.
The Minister emphasized that this initiative not only supports Malaysia’s shift towards sustainable energy but also strengthens the country’s standing as the world’s second-largest producer of palm oil, demonstrating its commitment to responsible and forward-thinking practices.
“This is one of the government’s key initiatives because we’ve made a commitment to the world that we intend to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” he said.
According to Johari, the KLIA project is a result of a joint effort between the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), and Syarikat Teras Kembang Sdn Bhd.
He clarified that Petronas Dagangan Bhd is supplying the B20 biodiesel, MAHB is the airport operator, and Syarikat Teras Kembang Sdn Bhd is managing the fuel stations that provide B20 to the ground service vehicle and machinery operators at KLIA.
“This launch is a historic milestone as it marks the first time B20 biodiesel has been introduced for the ground service sector or the industrial sector at airports in Malaysia,” he proudly announced.
B20 biodiesel is a mixture of 20 percent palm-derived fuel and 80 percent regular diesel. Its adoption is seen as a way to contribute to sustainability, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and lower the amount of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
