KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- ePOMEX Palm Oil (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, asubsidiary of HeiTech Padu Bhd, Tuesday announced that the Malaysianelectronic exchange for physical delivery of oil palm products which begantrading in late 2001, has now installed 16 Seat Holders.

In a statement here today, ePOMEX's executive director, Datuk Mohd HilmeyMohd Taib, said that the Seat Holders of the exchange include seven of the10 largest plantation companies and three of the five largest refiners inMalaysia.

He said that the penetration is particularly strong in Pasir Gudang, whereExchange Seat Holders account for nearly 60 percent of the market.

One of the largest independent refiners in Pasir Gudang is Pan CenturyEdible Oil Sdn Bhd.

The company, which is owned by the Aditya Birla Group of India, has anannual refining capacity of over one million tonnes and specialityproducts capacity of 120,000 metric tonne.

Its president K.N.Luhariwala said that Pan Century has been interested inexplorig e-commerce options and was pleased to take advantage of theopportunity to buy oul palm products on the recently launched MalaysianPalm Oil Exchange, ePOMEX. -- BERNAMA