Mission said commissioning of the facility, located at Kuantan Port, was progressing “satisfactorily, although slightly behind schedule.”

This was owing to unexpected delays in routine final inspections by balance-of-plant equipment suppliers and the Malaysian fire and health authorities.

The company said it had resolved the initial procedural delays in securing permits necessary for commencing final commissioning.

In addition, Mission said the plant has received the requisite safety, health and fire approvals after physical inspections last month by the relevant authorities, following which all raw materials such as methanol, sodium methylate and palm oil were delivered to the site.

All utilities such as the steam boiler, cooling towers and chiller have been successfully commissioned, with test quantities of biodiesel produced in the plant.

“The biodiesel produced is also clear and devoid of impurities and particulates which have been problems in other commissioning recently,” the company said.

The last stage of commissioning involves operating the facility using actual feedstock and chemicals to ensure all the various components and equipment of the facility work properly, as well as to fine tune the inputs-dosage of feedstock and chemicals to achieve optimum reaction and production.