Malaysia has 75 biodiesel projects in the pipeline

Malaysian palm oil companies can produce at least one million tons of biodiesel in 2007, according to the Chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Association Datuk Sabri Ahmad.  There are now five companies producing biofuel. The total biofuel production from these companies alone should hit 400,000 tons this year (2006),” he said.  According to Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Peter Chin Fah Kui, the Malaysian government in November approved 75 biodiesel projects involving 72 companies. Eight of these companies are expected to start biodiesel production with an annual capacity of 1.16 million metric tons in 2007. The biodiesel facilities, with a total investment of about RM7.01 billion (US$1.9 billion) will be done in phases for several years. About 69% of the approved budget for the projects are local investments and about 31% are from foreign investors, Chin said. (December 12, 2006)