Former aircraft engineer Muhammad Arif Arman Suddin and his friend Mohammad Azhan Shamsu Anuar have transformed discarded kitchen oil into an alternative energy source capable of powering aircraft.
Arif, 30, said his experience in the aviation industry inspired them to find innovative methods to convert waste into renewable energy.
“It took us about eight months from last year to conduct extensive research and countless trial-and-error experiments to master the process of producing fuel from used cooking oil,” he told Bernama.
Their perseverance finally paid off when, in February, their processed used oil began attracting interest from several aviation-fuel suppliers.
The production process involves several rigorous stages, including fine filtration to ensure the end product meets International Sustainability and Carbon Certification Corsia (ISCC Corsia) standards.
He said the used cooking oil is collected from households, traders and companies across Perak and east coast states before being filtered, weighed and stored in tanks for further processing.
“We buy used cooking oil at between RM2.30 and RM3 per kg, depending on the location. Every day, our team collects nearly 5,000 litres of used oil from several states for processing,” he added.
According to Arif, only oil derived from vegetable sources qualifies under ISCC Corsia criteria, with preliminary checks made on its smell, colour and density to ensure compliance with required standards.
Once processed, the used cooking oil is delivered in batches of about 33,000 litres to Fima Bulking Group in Port Klang, before being supplied to international aviation-fuel companies.
“Our processed oil has received regular orders from jet-fuel suppliers in Amsterdam, Switzerland and the United States.
“This fuel can only be supplied to companies certified under ISCC Corsia, and its use has been proven to reduce carbon emissions by up to four times compared to conventional kerosene.”
Arif, who revealed that the venture now generates a six-figure monthly income, hopes more Malaysians will recognise the economic and environmental value of used cooking oil.
“We want to prove that domestic waste such as used cooking oil can become a clean energy source for the future. The government is already moving towards commercialising sustainable aviation fuel, and Malaysia is expected to begin production of this fuel before the end of the year,” he added.
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