Malaysia approves 91 biodiesel projects

Malaysia has approved a total of 91 biodiesel projects, with a total production capacity of 10.2 million tons per year, by the end of September 2007, Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry’s Parliamentary Secretary Senator Datuk S. Vijayaratnam said. He said that the approved biofuel industry law should enable the industry to function effectively. However, the Malaysian government is still struggling to thrash out details of the biofuels act it passed last year and to set a final date for implementing the mandatory blending standards. Secretary General Michael Dosim Lunjew, of Malaysia’s Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities said it was difficult to estimate a precise time line for mandated blending. Separately, the official expressed concern about the impact of rising crude palm oil prices on biodiesel projects in Malaysia. (October 30, 2007)