Mission opens first biodiesel plant in Malaysia

Perth-based biodiesel producer Mission Biofuels Ltd has officially opened its first biodiesel and glycerine purification refinery in Kuantan, Malaysia, which is set to start commercial production next month.

The $27.5 million facility is the first biodiesel plant in the state of Pahang and one of the largest in Malaysia.

The 100,000 tpa plant, which uses crude palm oil as its primary feedstock has already produced commercial quantities of biodiesel which, meets or exceeds EN14214 and ASTMD6751 standards in force in Europe and America.

In anticipation of rising global demand in the next few years, Mission has invested in a second refinery adjacent to the first, which is scheduled to commence production in September 2008.

The new plant will have an annual production capacity of 250,000 tonnes of biodiesel, 25,000 tonnes of glycerine and 10,000 tonnes of Palm Fatty Acid Distillate.

When both plants are operational, Mission will become the largest biodiesel producer in Malaysia.