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Malaysia is still researching Jatropha biofuel crop potential
Added 248 days ago - KUANTAN: Smallholders in Malaysia will have to wait between two to three years before they will know whether it is viable to commercially grow jatropha, a possible crop for biofuel, said Plantation, Industries and Commodities deputy minister A Kohilan Pillay.
He said much research and development was needed before the crop could be planted on a large scale.
”Jatropha is already being planted at various sites in Sabah, Sungai Buloh, Kepong and Setiu in Terengganu and some of them have already produced the seeds.
”However, the size is small and the oil extraction volume is not viable for mass production. We have asked the researchers to produce seeds of bigger size with more oil extract,” he said.
He added that one of the research and development activities being carried out was at the Asiatic Centre for Genome Technology Sdn Bhd’s (ACGT) Jatropha Experimental Station in Sepang.
On the development of alternative fuel from non-food sources in the country, Kohilan said the matter would be discussed by the Cabinet.
The mandatory requirement for biofuel might be tabled for discussion, he added.
”Several Asian countries like Thailand and Indonesia have already introduced such a requirement while the European Union has come up with a directive for a similar measure,” he said.
Kohilan also said 91 manufacturing licences for biofuel production had been issued and five were already operational.
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