InfoSAWIT, KUALA LUMPUR — There is no negative perception among European buyers regarding the feasibility of palm oil as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), said Malaysia’s Minister of Plantation and Commodities, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
Johari emphasized that used cooking oil (UCO)—currently the primary raw material for SAF—is highly valued in Europe and recognized as a high-quality feedstock.
“Malaysia also holds the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, which ensures that every ton of palm oil is produced sustainably and provides confidence to the international market,” he said, as quoted by The Edge Malaysia on Wednesday (26 November 2025).
Johari delivered the statement after visiting Malaysia’s first SAF biofuel refinery operated by Ecoceres Renewable Fuels Sdn Bhd in Tanjung Langsat, Johor.
Previous reports had suggested that European buyers harbored concerns over palm oil–based SAF, particularly relating to deforestation and environmental sustainability.
Johari reiterated that Malaysia, as the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, has a competitive advantage in supplying feedstock for the expanding SAF industry.
“This SAF initiative is part of Malaysia’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and can be categorized as a low-carbon business activity,” he said.
He added that the ministry continues to communicate with stakeholders and collaborate with the Ministry of Transport to develop a national SAF blending mandate. Malaysia plans to introduce a mandatory 1% SAF blend for flights departing Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Since July 2023, the ministry, together with PETRONAS Dagangan Bhd, has carried out public programs to encourage UCO collection. As of September, more than 1,200 tons of UCO had been collected from nearly 66,000 customers at 89 selected Petronas fuel stations nationwide.
Ecoceres’ Johor plant, with a licensed capacity of 350,000 metric tons per year, began producing SAF last month, marking a milestone for Malaysia’s biofuel ambitions. (T2)
