Skip to Content

What can hurt Malaysian biodiesel? How 'bout high palm oil prices



Writing from Kuala Lumpur, a reporter for Thomson Financial explains that the high cost of palm oil is making biodiesel in Malaysia uncompetitive. As we mentioned earlier this year, Malaysia has other biodiesel problems that are delaying the implementation of the mandatory B5 fuel blends in the country. The latest news is that, of the 91 biodiesel plants that were approved as of a month ago, only four were in operation (another four are being tested). Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry parliamentary secretary S Vijayaratnam said that, "Based on the high price of palm oil -- which is the raw material feedstock of the biofuel at the moment -- the use of biofuel is not competitive."

Sounds like a mixed blessing. Palm oil for biodiesel is unfriendly to the environment, but using the biofuel is cleaner than straight diesel. Guess things will just continue on as they have been.

[Source: Thomson Financial / Forbes]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Add your comments

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.



Featured Galleries

  • 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML450 hybrid
  • Governor Schwarzenegger with the Zero S
  • Peugeot Concept HYbrid3 Evolution
  • Volkswagen e-up! concept
  • Dacia Logan MCV Hi-Flex
  • Citroen C-Zero
  • Italwin Ducati City Pearl
  • SEMA 2009: Toyota Prius Aerius Concept
  • Peugeot BB1 concept visits London
  • 2010 Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion
  • Mavizen TTX02 Electric Racebike
  • 1 Liter Racing League

Categories


Autoblog

Daily Finance

Download Squad

Engadget

Joystiq

Autoblog Spanish

Switched.com

FanHouse

Asylum