KUALA LUMPUR: The Plantations and Commodities Ministry aims to collect 300,000 kilogrammes (kg) of used cooking oil from 15,000 people in the Used Cooking Oil Collection Programme this year.
Its minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the initiative, in collaboration with Petronas Dagangan Bhd, would allow consumers to return used cooking oil to Petronas in exchange for a fee of RM3 per kg.
The used cooking oil would then help develop the potential for sustainable biofuel production using used cooking oil to reduce the rate of greenhouse gas emissions.
"I have been made to understand that since July 2023 until February this year, a total of 205,000 kg of used cooking oil have been collected from 35 petrol stations, with the participation of 11,553 hawkers, and commercial and domestic consumers.
"In 2024, the ministry and Petronas aims to expand this programme to over 50 Petronas petrol stations nationwide, with a target of 300,000 kg collected and a participation of 15,000 people."
He said this while at the launch of the Used Cooking Oil Collection Programme in conjunction with Ikhlas Ramadan together with Gas Petronas at the Desa Pandan Ramadan bazaar here, today.
Also present were the Plantation and Commodities Ministry deputy secretary-general (Agriculture and Commodities) Datuk Razali Mohamad, and Petronas Dagangan Bhd managing director and chief executive officer Azrul Osman Sani.
Johari also said the programme would also increase awareness on the importance of taking care of the environment, apart from helping to increase the household income.
He said therefore, the public is encouraged to collect used cooking oil, and sell it at selected Petronas stations instead of disposing it in drains, garbage dumps, or outside their homes.
"This is also a proactive step in preparing to commercialise sustainable aviation fuel to meet the target of carbon neutral growth in the international aviation sector by 2050," the Titiwangsa member of parliament added.
Meanwhile, Johari said the ministry and Petronas Dagangan Berhad would also expand the programme to selected Ramadan bazaars such as at USJ 4, Bandar Kinrara, Puchong Prima, and Puncak Jalil in Selangor.