THE Primary Industries Ministry is discussing with stakeholders, including industry players in the commodities sector, for their inclusion in a planned economic stimulus package.

The package, which aims to mitigate the adverse economic impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak, will be announced by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad February 27 at 4.30pm.

“Although some sectors such as tourism were badly affected by the outbreak, the price of crude palm oil (CPO) is still quite good at around RM2,700-RM2,800 per tonne.

“I am glad that the commodities sector is not impacted that much but my ministry will submit a proposal to the Finance Ministry (MoF) for their consideration,” Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok told a press conference after the launch of the B20 biodiesel programme for the transportation sector today.

The programme was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Commenting on the B20 biodiesel programme today, Kok said the implementation started in Langkawi and Labuan in January 2020, and will now be expanded in phases to Sarawak in April 2020, Sabah in August 2020 and Peninsular Malaysia in June 2021.

She said the implementation of the B20 programme in the transportation sector will support demand for palm oil and stabilise its price while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The government had previously mandated the B10 programme in the transportation sector on February 1 last year and the B7 programme in the industrial sector on July 1 last year.

By using B20 biodiesel (20% palm biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel), the country will consume 1.06 million tonnes of palm oil a year.

Through the implementation of the B20 programme in the transportation sector and the continuation of the B7 programme in the industrial sector, Kok said about 1.3 million tonnes of palm oil annually will be used locally and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions amounting to 3.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

In collaboration with petroleum companies such as Petronas, Shell, Petron, Chevron and BHP, B20 biodiesel will be supplied in phases to over 3,400 petrol stations across Malaysia in line with the implementation plan of the B20 programme.

However, Kok said there many depots throughout the country and the facilities are currently being upgraded to accommodate up to B30 and this will be the future direction of the country.

“One day we will adopt the usage of B30 biodiesel and by then our facilities will be ready to supply,” she added. – Bernama, February 20, 2020.