Palm Oil Board to issue biofuel licenses

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) will be taking over from the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) as the issuer of biofuel licenses in 2008. This will take effect when the Malaysian Biofuel Industry Act 2006 begins to be implemented next year, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin in July. When the ministry gazettes the Act, MPOB will become the implementation agency and take over the licensing responsibility as well, he added. The take over will allow for much closer monitoring of the biofuel industry and ensure its orderly development. MIDA has so far approved 92 licenses but under the MIDA there is no provision for a timeline to begin production once the license is obtained. (July 5, 2007)