PUTRAJAYA April 20, 2026 – Economy Minister Akmal Nasir has responded to public and industry concerns that the government is “rushing” the implementation of the B15 biodiesel mandate, assuring that key preparations have already been completed.
In a post on X today, the Johor Bahru MP revealed that one common reaction to last week’s announcement was: “Rushing sangat ni, umum terus buat, kita ready ke?” (They’re rushing this — announcing it straight away. Are we ready?)
“Perhaps because biodiesel has been discussed for so long, people have become a little skeptical when we finally push it,” he wrote with a light-hearted emoji.
Minister Akmal stressed that the decision was not made hastily. He listed three major considerations that were thoroughly evaluated before the announcement:
- Production capacity
- Existing infrastructure
- Logistics
He added that the government will continue to monitor readiness closely with industry players while rolling out more regular public updates on the B15 implementation.
Another concern raised by stakeholders is whether increasing the biodiesel blend to 15% will affect the supply or price of other palm oil-based products. The minister teased that this issue will be addressed in “Part 2”.
Accompanying the post is a video from a recent facility visit where the minister and officials examined palm methyl ester (PME) production — the key component in biodiesel. In the clip, he explains that PME does not expire easily like ordinary cooking oil and does not freeze even when stored for long periods under air-conditioning, highlighting its stability for diesel blending.
Malaysia, one of the world’s largest palm oil producers, has progressively increased its biodiesel blend over the years to reduce reliance on imported diesel, support the palm oil industry, and lower carbon emissions. The move to B15 is seen as the next step in this national programme.
The minister’s post has so far received modest engagement, reflecting ongoing public caution over the policy’s timing and impact on consumers and downstream industries.
Stay tuned for Part 2 — as promised by the minister — for further details on how the B15 rollout will balance biodiesel demand with other palm oil uses.
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