5/6/2005 Thai Press Reports - Malaysia is seeking to develop new energyalternatives, particularly to produce bio-diesel oil from palm oil,Malaysian Minister of Plantation Enterprises and Commodity Chin Fah Kuitold parliament on May 4.

The oil price hike will reduce the supply of oil in the domestic market,affecting the economic development, according to the Minister. Developingnew energy alternatives from available fuel resources in the country willcontribute to ensuring sustainable development of the economy.

Malaysia is the world's largest palm oil producer with an output of 13.9million tonnes of crude palm oil in 2004. So it is possible to apply thetechnology to produce bio-diesel oil from this abundant material resourceto meet domestic demand and export it to areas having a high diesel oilprice, including European countries.