Event report: 2023 Global Marine Fuel and Green Shipping Development Forum (Zhoushan, China)

Singapore-based bunkering publication Manifold Times was present at the 2023 Global Marine Fuel and Green Shipping Development Forum at Zhoushan, China on 25 October.

More than 500 delegates from the domestic and international marine fuels supply chain were briefed by top management of the nation’s bunkering developments.

In 2022, Zhoushan port’s bunkering sector delivered over 6 million metric tonnes (mt) of marine fuel cementing its position as the fourth largest marine refuelling port in the world. From January to September 2023, the port recorded a total of 5.29 million mt of bonded ship fuel being bunkered, representing a year-on-year increase of 20.55%.

During the forum, Wang Liguo, Executive Director of the Marine Fuel Industry Committee of the China Petroleum Circulation Association, introduced the “2022 Global Bunker Rankings by Supplier” rankings and provided a brief analysis of global bunkering firms.

Cui Yiling, Deputy Director of Administrative Committee of Zhoushan High-tech Industrial, introduced achievements and future plans of Zhoushan’s current bunkering sector while announcing the launch of construction work of China’s Northeast Asia Bonded Bunkering Center.

Fang Haifeng, General Manager of Sinopec Fuel Oil Sales Co., LTD., spoke of his company ambitions through a presentation titled “Striving to be a global promoter of clean and smart ship energy” while offering a glimpse of Sinopec’s future green and low-carbon solutions.

Wang Yongxin, President of China Merchants Energy Shipping Co., Ltd., shared in this presentation “Exploration and practice of ship decarbonization in CMES” the firm’s three operational pillars which are “leading high-quality development of the industry with demand”, “promoting the green and low-carbon development of the industry with ecology” and “promoting the progress of low-carbon and decarbonization technology in the industry with digitalization”.

Karl Kleemeier, Head of Asia, SVP – Oil Markets at Argus Media, meanwhile delivered a keynote speech entitled “Global Bunker Fuel – Prices and Latest Developments”. He explained the movement in global fuel supply prices from an international perspective and provided a comparison between Zhoushan and Singapore bunker prices.

Cui Yuwei, Director of CCS Shanghai Rules & Research Institute, explained the latest developments in maritime emission reductions. When choosing an alternative bunker fuel for a newbuilding or retrofit, a shipowner needs to consider five key factors which are the potential for emission reductions, the completeness of regulations and standards, technological maturity, fuel availability and economy of use.

Zhao Kai, China Chief Representative of Methanol Institute, gave an outlook on the development of marine methanol fuel focusing on the characteristics of methanol, the development footprint of renewable methanol and the application trend of methanol marine fuel. A hazard analysis of different alternative fuels has presented methanol as the safest alternative bunker fuel, he stated.

Zhang Yuanyuan, Senior Manager of the Planning Department of PetroChina Natural Gas Marketing, introduced the development trends and market prospects of LNG as a marine fuel while providing an overview of PetroChina’s LNG business. She forecasts China’s LNG bunkering demand to reach between 6 to 9 million mt in 2035.

The final roundtable discussion of the forum was moderated by Qi Yinliang, Founder of Beyond Shipping, with Zhuang Wei, Regional Manager of BIMCO Asia, Tokumoto Senji, Managing Director of MOL (China) Co., Ltd., Shen Tao, Head of China Sustainability Center ABS, Zhao Kuo, Head of shipping at Minsheng Financial Leasing, and Wang Biao, Marketing Director of Zhejiang Free Trade Zone Petrochina Fuel Oil Co.,Ltd, whom all focused on discussion of “Green Alternative of Marine Fuels Towards Zero-Carbon”.

Photo credit: Zhoushan Municipal People’s Government
Published: 8 November 2023