Malaysia to start using B5

The pump price of palm biodiesel will remain the same as regular diesel fuel when the biodiesel blend is introduced in Malaysia in 2009, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui said. Beginning February 2009, Malaysia will use the B5 blend (5% biodiesel) in government vehicles, followed by the industrial and transport sectors. Chin said this has the potential to reduce palm oil stocks by between 200,000 and 500,000 tons per year. Chin said as a major producer of palm oil, Malaysia has the advantage to supply the growing global demand for biofuels. (November 17, 2008)