Convince us intelligently, not forcibly! -Palm biofuel to replace diesel

As much as the way to go green is to support the drive for Palm biofuel to replace diesel, I am really mad of those in power who wants to force everything just because they thought it is the right thing to do.

Well, convince us of the benefits and pros of converting, you'll have ready and willing converts. Force us, and we will forever hate you!

Gomen ofiser zaman pemerintahan BN macam nie lah! Gila babi punya orang!

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The Star Online > Nation

Thursday October 6, 2005

Palm biofuel to replace diesel

BY TEOH TEIK HOONG

PETALING JAYA: The sale and use of biofuel – a mixture of 5% processed palm oil and 95% diesel – will be made mandatory in 2008.

It will be implemented after the Biofuel Bill is tabled and passed by Parliament next year.

“Once the Bill is passed, industries, motorists and petrol stations will be given a year to voluntarily switch to biofuel.

“We want the public to test the fuel and give us feedback,” Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui told The Star.

He said once the trial period was over, the Government would make it mandatory for diesel to be replaced with biofuel.

“There will no longer be unadulterated diesel on sale. We will enforce it and make everyone comply,” he added.

Records from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry showed that last year, industry demand for diesel was 2.8 billion litres while diesel sold at subsidised prices for other uses totalled 5.56 billion litres.

Having a 5% mix would mean cutting down the reliance on diesel for industrial use by 140,000 litres and for other uses by 278,000 litres annually.

The use of biofuel will also help cut down carbon monoxide emissions from vehicles and machines, as the combustion of biofuel produces carbon dioxide.

Chin said the Government’s target was to export 180,000 tonnes of biofuel by 2007.

“We have the capacity to produce enough for domestic use,” he said.

Former Malaysian Palm Oil Association chief executive M.R. Chandran said it was important the Government ensure that petroleum companies complied with the National Biofuel Policy and Biofuel Act.

“We need strong political will to compel petrol kiosks to make biofuel available,” he said.

He said it was important for biofuel producers and petroleum companies to work together to make biofuel available to the public at petrol stations.

Chandran said Malaysia could convert 500,000 tonnes of its total production of 15 million tonnes of crude palm oil into biofuel.

“The 5% mix of processed palm oil with diesel will not affect the performance of vehicles,” he added.

On concerns that the push to use biofuel meant clearing more land for planting oil palm, Chandran said any expansion in the future would be done in a sustainable manner.

“The country is the top producer of palm oil in the world with almost four million hectares in plantations.

“Our maximum capacity is to plant another 600,000ha and produce a maximum of 20 million tonnes of palm oil annually,” he said.

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