WHILE international scientists and researchers are cracking their heads to find and produce renewable energy, a Malaysian company has made the country proud by producing fuel made from plastic waste.

Greenbase Utama Sdn Bhd yesterday officially launched its first oil, anticipating a net profit of RM20 million per year from its investment of RM50 million to set up a pilot plant in Shah Alam to process the plastic waste.

"For the smallest-scale plant, the investment would be around RM50 million and can generate a revenue of at least RM30 million a year," Halil told reporters after the official launch by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Shah Alam.

He said the company invites investors at home and abroad, to become strategic partners to open up a bigger plant.

Malaysia Biofuels Annual Report 2008

Escalating palm oil prices have dampened the fledging biodiesel industry in Malaysia according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. The Government put on hold the proposed mandatory blend of five per cent of palm olein in diesel. However, foreign companies continue to invest in this sector, reflecting optimism in its long term prospects. Domestic consumption of biodiesel will be low, as most all of the production will be exported, mainly to the European Union and United States. With palm oil prices breaching new record highs, Jatropha looks to be a promising alternative feedstock.

Executive Summary

With the rocketing crude palm oil (CPO) prices and subsidized retail petroleum diesel in the domestic market, some investors have put on their brakes to go ahead with their biodiesel plant construction plans. A couple of plants have suspended production to avoid incurring losses. In the meantime, the Government of Malaysia (GOM) put on hold the proposed mandatory blend of 5 percent of palm olein in diesel in the domestic market.

Overseas markets remain attractive given the sharp increase in petrole um products and other bio-fuel feedstock. However, the EU’s concerns over negative impacts of oil palm cultivation on environment and land-use have raised fears of possible banning of palm oil based biodiesel going into the EU.

 Air travel is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gases (BBC)

Below is a table showing us estimated C02 emission by plane and train.

KOTA BAHARU, Dec 5 (NNN-BERNAMA) -- The seeds of the Jatropha Curcas Linn, locally known as pokok jarak pagar, used as fuel by the Japanese for its aircraft during the Second World War, have the potential to be commercially processed into environmental-friendly biodiesel and biopetrol.

The plant, normally used as traditional medicine, especially by women as contraceptive, is also grown as garden hedge by households.