15/1/06 (RedNova)  -  WHEN the Malaysian Palm Oil Board first started its palm oil-as- fuel research in the 1980's, it all seemed pretty academic because diesel was less than a ringgit a gallon while palm oil was a FOOD - too expensive to burn as fuel. At that time, barrel oil was also USD18 a barrel. So there was no economic justification to using palm oil as fuel even though technically, it had been proven by diesel- engined Mercedes Benz cars running without a hiccup on cooking oil.

Further proof to the suitability of palm oil as a fuel was provided by heavy commercial vehicles that added crude palm oil straight into their diesel tanks on the eve of their bi-annual compliance testing at Puspakom. The vegetable oil provided better combustion and the exhaust emissions were cleaner, helping them pass the smoke opacity test.

Palm oil bio-diesel is the touted as the next big thing in the Malaysian fuel industry, perhaps even the rest of the world. The great thing is, it's renewable and the prices are quite fixed.

In addition to lowering low emissions, it is also biodegradable, non-toxic, safe to handle and sulphur-free, Diesel Baru can be blended in any percentage with conventional diesel. Diesel Baru also acts as a lubricant, and can reduce the need for lubricating additives in some fuels. However, there is a slight power loss from using palm bio-diesel, but because Diesel Baru is a blend of 5 per cent processed palm oil with 95 per cent petroleum diesel, the power loss is negligible. Emissions are also cleaner with less carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and total particulate matter. Nitrogen Oxide (a contributor to smog) is slightly higher but still within acceptable levels.

Currently, the only stumbling block is the price factor if barrel oil goes back to the low USD50's. The time for Diesel Baru starts when the bio-fuel bill is tabled in Parliament in March. - ACSB

Source: New Straits Times