KUALA LUMPUR: Langkawi has begun using the B20 biodiesel in the transport sector since Jan 1.
Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok said Petronas' Tok Senik petrol station in the island has become the first petrol station in Malaysia to sell the B20 biodiesel.
Labuan would be next within this month.
Kok said recently that the B20 biodiesel programme would be deployed gradually in Sarawak, Sabah and finally the entire peninsula.
She said the B20 biodiesel programme was expected to mop up 500,000 tonnes of crude palm oil from the existing amount used for the current B10 biodiesel programme.
She said the government through the Finance Ministry has also agreed to keep the retail price of B20 biodiesel the same as that of B10 biodiesel, which is now selling at RM2.18/ litre.
"This means, consumers can enjoy a cleaner vehicle fuel at the same retail price rate.
"B20 would replace B10 in phases," said Kok.
"The main reason for using B20 biodiesel is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thereby making the country cleaner and sustainable,” she said.
Kok said with the increase in the price of crude palm oil in the global market which has surpassed the RM3,000/tonne level, the B20 biodiesel programme could assist in maintaining the momentum in price increase as well as boosting the household income of oil palm smallholders in the country.
