SUBANG JAYA: The government has yet to pinpoint the exact implementation date for raising the current B7 mandate for biodiesel to B10.
B10 biodiesel is a blend of 10 per cent palm methyl ester (PME) and 90 per cent regular diesel while B7 is of a lower blend of 7 per cent PME.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, when asked if Malaysia would raise the current B7 biodiesel mandate at fuel stations to B10 and introduce the B7 blend to the industrial sector by Dec 1, declined to comment.
“I’ll answer your question on B10 another time. Tonight, it is all about our furniture industry,” he said.
The minister was officiating the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Furniture Industry Association (KLSFIA) 60th Anniversary and Merger Gala Dinner, here tonight.
Mah had previously said that the government is committed to encouraging more usage of palm biodiesel, with the plan being to raise the mandate to B10.
Over the past five years, the government via the ministry and its agency, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), has been taking a slow-and-steady approach in rolling out the B5 and then B7 blends.
Malaysian Biodiesel Association (MBA) president U.R Unnithan had previously said members have received indications from MPOB that the current B7 mandate will be raised to B10 on Dec 1.
Apart from the B7 mandate going up to B10, the industrial sector, which have been using only regular diesel all this while, will start using B7 on Dec 1, he told Business Times yesterday.
Unnithan also said petrol stations selling Euro 5 grade diesel are exempted from the B10 mandate but will be required to retail the B7 blend.