Malaysia has strengthened its position in the global low-carbon aviation fuel supply chain with the commissioning of a US$500 million (RM1.958 billion) sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility in Tanjung Langsat, Johor.
The Malay Mail reported that the development by Hong Kong-based renewable fuels producer EcoCeres enhances the state’s reputation as a strategic industrial and export hub.
The plant, with an annual production capacity of 420,000 tonnes, is 40 per cent larger than EcoCeres’ first biofuels facility in Jiangsu, China, which produces 300,000 tonnes annually, underscoring Johor’s growing role in advanced biofuel manufacturing and export-oriented industries.
EcoCeres co-chairman James Tam described the Johor facility as “strategically critically important” to the company’s development, noting that South-east Asia was identified as a key location due to its abundant supply of waste-based feedstocks required for SAF production.
“We need used cooking oils and other waste oils as feedstocks. South-east Asia is abundant in the supplies of the raw materials that we can use for sustainable aviation fuels,” he said.
Tam said Malaysia was selected after evaluating several countries in the region, citing a supportive government, a well-established legal system to protect foreign investors and strong port infrastructure that facilitates exports within the region and to Europe.
“Malaysia also has excellent port facilities… we are close to port facilities that will enable us to export our sustainable aviation fuels, not just within Malaysia and Southeast Asia, but also as a gateway to Europe when we ship our products there,” he said.
