Latest news with #palmOil
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Malaysia targets ports to adopt B20 biodiesel in drive toward net-zero emissions
SEPANG, May 29 — The government is targeting all ports nationwide currently using B10 palm-based biodiesel in their operations to transition to B20 biodiesel, said Plantations and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. Johari said the initiative would support the country's efforts to meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity based on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 45 per cent by 2030 and to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. 'In the future, I want to see every port, like Penang Port, Port Klang, Tanjung Pelepas Port, Johor Port and Kuantan Port, start using B20 biodiesel in their operations. 'We are currently collecting statistics, and based on that data, we will be able to determine the operational costs involved,' he told reporters after launching the B20 Use Pilot Project for Ground Service Vehicles and Machinery at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here today. He said the government had already begun pilot projects for the use of B20 biodiesel in Langkawi, Labuan and Sarawak in 2020 and now at KLIA for ground service vehicles and machinery to create a big impact and be a catalyst for national change in the use of green energy. Johari said the initiative not only supports Malaysia's transition toward sustainable energy but alsod the initiative not only supports Malaysia's transition toward sustainable energy but also strengthens the country's position as the world's second largest producer of palm oil, which is committed to responsible and proactive practices. 'This is one of the government's key initiatives because we've made a commitment to the world that we intend to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,' he said. According to Johari, the project is being implemented through a strategic collaboration between the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) and Syarikat Teras Kembang Sdn Bhd. He said Petronas Dagangan Bhd serves as the B20 biodiesel supplier, MAHB as the airport operator, while Syarikat Teras Kembang Sdn Bhd manages the petrol stations supplying B20 to operators of ground service vehicles and machinery at KLIA. 'This launch is a historic milestone as it marks the first time B20 biodiesel has been introduced for the ground service sector or the industrial sector at airports in Malaysia,' he said. B20 is a blend of 20 per cent palm methyl ester (PME) and 80 per cent petroleum diesel. Its use is seen as contributing to sustainability and reducing the use of fossil-based fuels, as well as reducing the use of GHGs that cause global warming. — Bernama
Reuters
5 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Malaysia says EU's deforestation risk rating based on old data
KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Reuters) - Malaysia's Commodities Minister on Wednesday expressed concern over the European Union classifying the country as 'standard risk' under the new anti-deforestation law, saying the designation was based on old data. Addressing an event in Singapore, minister Johari Abdul Ghani said the classification was based on 2020 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization data and Malaysia, the world's second-largest exporter of palm oil, had introduced sufficient measures to justify being designated "low risk". The European Commission last week categorised goods imported from Belarus, Myanmar, North Korea and Russia as "high risk" of fuelling deforestation. Under the EU regulations, "standard risk" countries will face lighter compliance checks on goods exported to Europe, while "low-risk" countries will face less stringent due-diligence rules. Those classified as "standard risk" include Malaysia, Indonesia and Brazil. The EU law, which is expected to come into effect in December, applies to soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa and coffee, and some derived products including leather, chocolate and furniture. Johari reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to present updated, science-based evidence to support its request for a 'low risk' status. 'Malaysia has implemented strict no-deforestation policies and developed our own certification system ... which ensures traceability, compliance, and inclusivity, particularly for smallholders," Johari said, according to an official transcript of the remarks. 'We are fully committed to working with the EU Commission to ensure fair recognition of our progress,' he said, adding Malaysia had also participated widely in international sustainability efforts. The EC says its methodology is "firmly rooted in a commitment to fairness, objectivity and transparency" and it has a benchmarking process that is dynamic and set to be reviewed in 2026 after publication of new data later this year. The Malaysian Palm Oil Board said the EU's classification was based on a method that was 'too narrow and incomplete' and based on the average annual forest loss between 2015 and 2020. "This short timeframe does not show the full picture' it said in a statement. It also raised concerns on the EU's methodology, which it said looked at general forest loss and discriminated against the palm oil sector. The EU's delegation in Malaysia did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of regular working hours.
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
The unsung gentleman of global sustainability — Ahmad Ibrahim
MAY 28 — Palm oil has come a long way since assuming leadership of the global oil and fats business. It accounts for the largest share, more than a third, of the world trade in oils and fats. Malaysia can claim to have started the expansion. Indonesia is now the largest producer. Malaysia is second. But unlike Indonesia, Malaysia has reached the limit in production because of land constraints. This has stabilised at about 6 million hectares. Malaysia has always respected the need to refrain from encroaching into environmentally sensitive permanent forest areas. We value biodiversity. To increase production, Malaysia is trying hard to increase yield. It is not easy because unlike Indonesia, Malaysia is very dependent on foreign labour to harvest the fruits. But Malaysia is intensifying her research and development (R&D) on breeding through Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) to deliver better yield. At an average of 4 tons per hectare per year, the yield is far behind the theoretically possible yield of 17 tons. We may reach there one day. The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) is the industry group that has always been committed to the betterment of the industry. Compared to soy or sunflower, which require up to nine times more land to yield the same output, palm oil's efficiency is unmatched. — Picture by Farhan Najib MPOA brought together a few plantation groups established in the early years of the industry, including RGA, United Planters and MOPGC. I recently attended a dinner celebrating 25 years of MPOA. Many veteran industry captains came to honour the occasion. Tun Raja Alias, a much recognised leader of Felda, was there to receive a special award. MPOA chairman, Dato Lee of IOI Corporation, lamented about the low interest among the young generation to join the industry. In a world quick to vilify, palm oil stands as an unassuming titan, quietly powering our lives while weathering a storm of criticism. Found in half of all supermarket products, from lipstick to instant noodles, this ubiquitous oil is both a hero and a scapegoat of modern industry. Yet, amidst the clamour, palm oil behaves not as a villain, but as a gentleman; resilient, reform-minded, and indispensable. Imagine a crop that produces 35 per cent of the world's vegetable oil on just 10 per cent of the land allocated to oilseeds. This is palm oil's silent superpower. Compared to soy or sunflower, which require up to nine times more land to yield the same output, palm oil's efficiency is unmatched. In an era of shrinking arable land and growing populations, this efficiency isn't just impressive, it's critical. To shun palm oil would mean swapping it for far thirstier, land-hungry alternatives, exacerbating environmental strain. Palm oil's detractors rightly highlight its historical ties to deforestation and biodiversity loss. Yet, like a gentleman acknowledging past missteps, the industry has embarked on a transformative journey. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), established in 2004, now certifies 20 per cent of global production, mandating zero deforestation, peatland protection, and fair labour practices. Major producers like Malaysia and Indonesia have halted new plantation expansions in primary forests, while companies such as Sime Darby invest in satellite monitoring to combat illegal logging. These aren't mere pledges, they're measurable actions. Since 2018, deforestation linked to palm oil has fallen by 60 per cent in Southeast Asia. Malaysia now boasts of zero deforestation. Behind the headlines are millions of smallholder farmers, families in rural Indonesia, Malaysia, and Nigeria, for whom palm oil is a ladder out of poverty. The crop generates US$20 billion (RM84.5 billion) annually for Indonesia alone, funding schools, clinics, and infrastructure. Critics in wealthier nations, whose ancestors levelled forests for industrialisation, now demand developing countries forgo similar growth. Yet palm oil offers a paradox: it is both a development tool and a sustainability test case. The challenge lies not in boycotting it, but in ensuring its benefits reach those who need it most. Swapping palm oil for alternatives like soy or coconut is no panacea. Soy cultivation drives deforestation in the Amazon, while coconut farming's water intensity strains arid regions. Even olive oil, celebrated in Mediterranean diets, requires 3,000 litres of water per litre of oil, compared to palm's 1,200. Palm oil's sin isn't its impact, but its visibility. As the most scrutinised oil, it faces a double standard others evade. The path forward isn't demonisation but collaboration. Europe's recent deforestation law, which targets palm oil imports, risks penalising smallholders already adopting sustainable practices. Instead, wealthy nations should fund green transitions, supporting technologies like methane-capturing biogas from palm waste. Consumers, too, can advocate for certified sustainable products, rewarding ethical producers. Palm oil is no saint, but neither is it a sinner. It is a mirror reflecting our collective demand for affordable, abundant, and sustainable resources. To label it a 'gentleman' is to recognise its capacity for reinvention and its quiet role in sustaining modern life. The true test of global sustainability lies not in scapegoating a single crop, but in reshaping systems so that efficiency and ethics go hand in hand. Palm oil has shown it can adapt. The question is: Can we? * Professor Dato Ahmad Ibrahim is affiliated with the Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy Studies at UCSI University and is an associate fellow at the Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies, Universiti Malaya. He can be reached at [email protected] ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Malaysia stirs ‘hotpot diplomacy' with palm-based fat for China
Malaysia's bilateral trade with Chongqing, a city in central China where mala hotpot is popular, has reached US$3.27 billion. (Medium pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia is seeking to expand its palm oil market in China by offering a plant-based alternative for use in mala hotpot, a popular spicy dish that's cooked with raw meats and vegetables in a simmering pot. The world's second-largest palm oil producer is working with Chinese researchers to develop a substitute for traditional tallow, a rendered animal fat mainly derived from beef and commonly used for frying and baking. Malaysia is touting palm as better aligned with modern healthy living trends. 'This is more than just culinary exchange – it's hotpot diplomacy,' said Chan Foong Hin, Malaysia's deputy minister of plantation and commodities. 'Palm is cholesterol-free and sourced sustainably,' he said in a statement. The mala version of the dish, featuring Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers, is known for its bright red color and tongue-numbing flavours. Early research shows that hotpot paste made with the new palm-based tallow closely replicates the fat content and sensory experience of traditional beef tallow, according to the statement. The plant-based alternative also makes it suitable for both vegetarians and Muslims. The initiative is part of Malaysia's effort to use scientific innovation to promote palm's use in China, the world's No 2 importer of the most-consumed cooking oil. Other collaborations with food manufacturers are also opening new entry points for the ubiquitous oil, including in mala-flavored snacks, personal care products, and industrial applications. 'Malaysia's bilateral trade with Chongqing, a city in central China where mala hotpot is popular, has reached US$3.27 billion, with palm playing a key role in the dish as well as green chemicals and oleochemicals,' Chan said. 'Palm-based tallow offers a more cost-effective solution, while matching the flavor and texture of traditional beef tallow,' Chan said. 'Malaysia is proud to contribute to the evolution of China's food culture while deepening trade and technology partnerships through palm oil,' he added.
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Malaysia Stirs ‘Hotpot Diplomacy' With Palm-Based Fat for China
Malaysia is seeking to expand its palm oil market in China by offering a plant-based alternative for use in mala hotpot, a popular spicy dish that's cooked with raw meats and vegetables in a simmering pot. The world's second-largest palm oil producer is working with Chinese researchers to develop a substitute to traditional tallow, a rendered animal fat mainly derived from beef and commonly used for frying and baking. Malaysia is touting palm as better aligned with modern healthy living trends.
