All geared up on green fuel
By SEAN YAP
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
Photo by ABDUL RAHMAN EMBONG
JOHOR BARU: Students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) will learn first-hand about the efficiency of green fuel, after they embarking on an over 6,500 km, biodiesel expedition to Vientiane in Laos.
Altogether, over 65 students and staff participating in the expedition.
They will be travelling in two buses and two four-wheel drives, all fuelled using biodiesel.
Challenge is on: Zaini (second from left) officiating the flag-off ceremony.
Tun Dr Ismail College principal and biodiesel expedition advisor Dr Firdausi Razali said that this was the third such expedition.
The first two were held in 2009 and 2010, with the participants travelling from Skudai to Thailand and from Pontianak in Indonesia to Kudat in Sabah respectively.
Dr Firdausi said that the team would use the expedition to study and collect data on the effectiveness of biodiesel.
“We will alternate between biodiesel fuel and normal diesel at different points of the journey, and then make a comparison on their mileages and gauge its efficiency,” he said.
The 14-day trip began in Singapore on May 22, and the students will pass through Thailand before ending their journey in Laos.
Dr Firdausi said that the biodiesel fuel used in this year’s expedition was converted from used cooking oil
“Biodiesel fuel can be made from either raw palm oil or used cooking oil, and our students went about collecting used cooking oil for the purpose of this expedition,” he explained to reporters during the flag off ceremony for the expedition held in UTM recently.
Dr Firdausi added that the expedition also hoped to raise awareness about sustainable technology and encourage recycling, pointing to the reuse of used cooking oil as an example.
“We found that a lot of cooking oil is either used until it becomes unhealthy for consumption, or just thrown out and wasted,” he said, adding that he hoped the expedition had integrated various recycling programmes in a bid to promote green technology.
The students from UTM will be joined on the trip by students from Universitas Tanjungpura in Kalimantan. They will also meet and have cultural exchanges with students from the Prince of Songkhla University in Thailand and the National University of Laos.
The flag off ceremony in UTM was officiated by UTM Vice Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Zaini Ujang.
“The creativity and innovation of the undergraduates in converting used cooking oil to biodiesel fuel shows that they have the ability to contribute to society as well as respond to the government’s calls for more green initiatives,” he said.
One of the expedition’s participants, Faidhi Fahmi, 21, said he thought the expedition would be a fulfilling experience as it is related to his course.
“I think that the expedition is challenging, but it is also educational and fun as well as we also get to develop our soft skills through the interaction with students from other countries,” said the petroleum engineering student.
He added the use of biodiesel fuel was more environmentally friendly in reducing carbon emissions, and would also be able to improve the efficiency of the vehicle engine.
Gambar dari Utusan Malaysia
By SEAN YAP
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
Photo by ABDUL RAHMAN EMBONG
JOHOR BARU: Students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) will learn first-hand about the efficiency of green fuel, after they embarking on an over 6,500 km, biodiesel expedition to Vientiane in Laos.
Altogether, over 65 students and staff participating in the expedition.
They will be travelling in two buses and two four-wheel drives, all fuelled using biodiesel.
Challenge is on: Zaini (second from left) officiating the flag-off ceremony.
Tun Dr Ismail College principal and biodiesel expedition advisor Dr Firdausi Razali said that this was the third such expedition.
The first two were held in 2009 and 2010, with the participants travelling from Skudai to Thailand and from Pontianak in Indonesia to Kudat in Sabah respectively.
Dr Firdausi said that the team would use the expedition to study and collect data on the effectiveness of biodiesel.
“We will alternate between biodiesel fuel and normal diesel at different points of the journey, and then make a comparison on their mileages and gauge its efficiency,” he said.
The 14-day trip began in Singapore on May 22, and the students will pass through Thailand before ending their journey in Laos.
Dr Firdausi said that the biodiesel fuel used in this year’s expedition was converted from used cooking oil
“Biodiesel fuel can be made from either raw palm oil or used cooking oil, and our students went about collecting used cooking oil for the purpose of this expedition,” he explained to reporters during the flag off ceremony for the expedition held in UTM recently.
Dr Firdausi added that the expedition also hoped to raise awareness about sustainable technology and encourage recycling, pointing to the reuse of used cooking oil as an example.
“We found that a lot of cooking oil is either used until it becomes unhealthy for consumption, or just thrown out and wasted,” he said, adding that he hoped the expedition had integrated various recycling programmes in a bid to promote green technology.
The students from UTM will be joined on the trip by students from Universitas Tanjungpura in Kalimantan. They will also meet and have cultural exchanges with students from the Prince of Songkhla University in Thailand and the National University of Laos.
The flag off ceremony in UTM was officiated by UTM Vice Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Zaini Ujang.
“The creativity and innovation of the undergraduates in converting used cooking oil to biodiesel fuel shows that they have the ability to contribute to society as well as respond to the government’s calls for more green initiatives,” he said.
One of the expedition’s participants, Faidhi Fahmi, 21, said he thought the expedition would be a fulfilling experience as it is related to his course.
“I think that the expedition is challenging, but it is also educational and fun as well as we also get to develop our soft skills through the interaction with students from other countries,” said the petroleum engineering student.
He added the use of biodiesel fuel was more environmentally friendly in reducing carbon emissions, and would also be able to improve the efficiency of the vehicle engine.
Ya Allah, ampunilah dia, rahmatilah dia, maafkanlah dia, ampunilah kesalahannya, muliakanlah kematiannya, lapangkanlah kuburnya, jadikanlah syurga sebagai ganti tempat tinggalnya dan berilah kesabaran kepada ahli keluarganya, semoga arwah di tempatkan di kalangan orang-orang yang beriman.
BalasPadamAllahumma Aamiin.
Al-Fatihah