The production of the tanks has been made possible due to an agreement between Johan Fibres and New Zealand-based Maskell Productions Ltd that allowed for the transfer of manufacturing technology between the two companies.

Under the agreement, Johan Fibres will be the sole licensee in Malaysia - and ASEAN - for the environmental-friendly double-wall fibre reinforced plastic storage tanks with leak-detection devices.

Johan Fibres technical director Datuk Dennis Ch'ng Siok Eik revealed that - once the company's plant is fully operational - more than 300 tanks a year can be produced and that the capacity can be doubled if there is a demand for it.

The company is mainly targeting all oil and gas operators - Petronas, Shell, Exxon Mobil, etc - but has said that its tanks can be used to store liquefied products such as palm oil and chemicals.

Production of the tanks is expected to begin next February.