Datuk Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur, Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) recently inaugurated the Trans Borneo Expedition Program which uses the B10 diesel at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) Research Centre in Belaga, Sarawak.
The expedition is organized by the MIPC together with MPOB to instill knowledge and awareness of the diesel B10, in line with the government’s intention to implement the B10 diesel and the country’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), while increasing the use of environmentally friendly fuels.
B10 is a blend of environmentally friendly biofuel suitable for diesel vehicles even in highland areas such as Kundasang, where the temperature is low. It is said to improve the lubricity and raises the cetane number of diesel to assist the combustion in the engine.
The expedition covers a distance of 1,000 km. Media representatives from the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak begin their journey from Belaga to Miri through Brunei, followed by Lawas in Sarawak as well as Keningau, Ranau before reaching the final destination at Kundasang in Sabah. 15 diesel-powered 4WD vehicles of various makes and four heavy-load vehicles are used for the five day and four night trip.
MPOB has been conducting feasibility studies using B10 biodiesel since 2013 and found the fuel to meet the standards of diesel and safe to use in all standard diesel vehicles. The Malaysian palm biodiesel used in the blend also meets international standards EN 14214 in Europe and ASTM D6751 in the United States. Other countries such as Colombia and Indonesia have implemented B10 and B20 biodiesel programs using palm-based biodiesel without technical problems until now.
The implementation of the B10 and B7 in the transport sector in Malaysia will contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions that are equivalent to exhaust emissions from 100,000 diesel vehicles on the road in a year.
