Malaysia will implement a B30 biodiesel programme for its transport sector by 2025 or earlier, prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said at the launch of the country's National Automotive Policy plan.

The policy will include supporting measures such as the development of testing and research standards to facilitate the adoption of biodiesel with a 30% palm oil content, Mahathir said, according to Reuters.

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Malaysia's primary industries ministry had said earlier it planned to test a B30 programme in June.

Last January, the Thai government announced plans to establish E20 'gasohol' as the main fuel for passenger vehicles in the second half of 2020, as it looked to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels.

The country's energy ministry planned to make the E20 petrol blend (95 RON), which has 20% ethanol content, available in all petrol stations nationwide by the third quarter of this year – replacing the currently available E10 (91 RON).

Gasohol uses ethanol produced mainly from cassava and sugar cane.

Thailand is the only Asian nation using ethanol as a mainstream automotive fuel.

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