KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 -- The government has agreed to increase the biodiesel blend rate from B10 to B15, beginning with B12, in order to sustain the country's diesel supply following the crisis in West Asia.

Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said that to avoid excessive dependence on imported fossil fuels and external markets, economic restructuring through a transition to renewable energy must be accelerated.

He said the government agreed to the upgrade to B12 as the foundation already exists, allowing it to be done without any additional cost by using existing biodiesel blending infrastructure.

"As a medium-term measure, we must accelerate economic restructuring through the transition to renewable energy to ensure more sec...