Palm oil-based lubricant on sale

Palm oil-based lubricant on sale

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia yesterday launched the world's first palm oil-based synthetic automotive lubricant after a two years' research to expand the commodity's use for industrial purposes, a minister said.

Primary Industries Minister Lim Keng Yaik said the launch of "Castrol Palmtec" -- a two-stroke motorcycle engine oil, proved palm oil's versatility for both food and industrial applications.

"We have to strive to remain at the top by expanding the uses of palm oil in the near future," Lim said, referring to efforts by Malaysia as the world's largest palmoil producer to boost demand for the commodity.

With about three million motorbikes in Malaysia, 60 percent of which have two-stroke engines, the annual demand for the lubricant could be as high as 12.6 million liters, Lim said.

Each engine consumes about seven liters of lubricating oil per year.

Malaysia's palm oil production is expected to increase eight percent to 7.8 million tons this year, contributing 52 percent of the world's total production and 64 percent of total exports.

As a cooking oil, it has to compete with 16 other oils and fats in the world.

A year ago, a Malaysian firm went into a joint venture with British-based Original Development Plc to develop polyurethanes, a synthetic resin used mainly in paints and foam, from palm oil.