B20 biodiesel trial at KLIA may expand to ports nationwide
SEPANG: Malaysia aims to expand the use of B20 palm-based biodiesel to major ports across the country, building on a new pilot programme launched at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the initiative reflects the country's broader commitment to lowering carbon emissions and enhancing the sustainability of its palm oil industry.
Currently, Malaysian airports operate using B10 biodiesel. The shift to B20, a blend containing 20 per cent palm-based methyl ester, represents a major step toward meeting Malaysia's goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, he said.
He added the trial phase at KLIA will require about 350,000 litres of B20 per month. If proven successful, the initiative will be extended to other key locations across the country.
"This marks the beginning of our journey for airports, while we wait for a new mandate on the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for jets. When jets begin using SAF, we will also use biodiesel for ground handling—making it a complete package for our airports.
"Looking ahead, I also want to see similar implementations at our major ports—such as Northport, Westport, Tanjung Pelepas Port (PTP), Johor Port, and Kuantan Port. I want to see how the companies operating in these areas can start considering the use of B20," he said.
Johari was speaking to reporters after the launch ceremony of the pilot project for the use of B20 palm biodiesel in ground service equipment (GSE) at KLIA.
He said B20 has already been introduced in Langkawi, Labuan, and Sarawak, which have the necessary blending facilities.
"For comparison, Indonesia is already at B40, while our industry is still at B7. So, this is part of the process we must go through to reach our net-zero carbon goal by 2050," he said.
Johari also expressed hope that Malaysia, currently classified as a standard risk under the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), will be reclassified as a low-risk country in the next review, which is expected to take place in 2026.
"The statistics used to assign our current standard risk status were based on data from 2020. So the progress we made in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 wasn't taken into account. Many countries have taken major steps over the past five years, including ours," he added.
He said that despite being classified as a standard risk, demand for Malaysian palm oil remains strong.
The country produces about 19 million tonnes annually, with four million tonnes consumed locally and the remaining 15 million tonnes fully exported.
"Countries like China, India, and even the European Union are still buying from us. I want to focus on improving our country's risk status.
"If we can achieve a "low risk" classification, that would benefit us as well as other industries. To make that happen, we need to work closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources," he added.
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