Alternative Fuels

Interview: KPI OceanConnect dives deeper on its FY2023/2024 and what’s to come

Anders Grønborg and Jesper Sørensen give more details on recent financial year results and KPI OceanConnect’s plans, including the company’s focus for the bunkering market in Asia, especially in Singapore.

Published

2 years ago

August 23, 2024

Admin

Interview: KPI OceanConnect dives deeper on its FY2023/2024 and what’s to come

In an exclusive interview with Singapore-based bunkering publication Manifold Times, Anders Grønborg, CEO, and Jesper Sørensen, Head of Alternative Fuels & Carbon Markets, KPI OceanConnect, shared insights into its recent results for the financial year 2023/2024 and its plans, including the company’s focus for the bunkering market in Asia, particularly in Singapore, for the upcoming financial year:

MT: With an increased volume of 9% to 12 million mt in FY 2023/24, what does KPI OceanConnect aim to achieve for FY 2024/2025?

Grønborg: Our aim for the next year is to stand side-by-side with our clients. From complying with all regulations and adopting alternative fuels to trading with conventional bunker fuel, our aim is to continue to anticipate and support our clients with their evolving needs.

In tangible terms, this could mean more offices in strategic locations around the world or hiring more people to bring in the right expertise. Having met our financial and market share targets last year, this next chapter is an exciting time of growth and consolidation for KPI OceanConnect.

MT: KPI OceanConnect’s Alternative Fuels & Carbon Markets team delivered several low-carbon fuel bunkering firsts for clients around the world during FY 2023/24, what can the industry expect from KPI OceanConnect in the coming months for alternative bunker fuels?

Sørensen: We are focusing on greater volumes of alternative fuels, driven by global regulations, to help the industry make informed decisions on their energy transition. As an intermediary, we will continue to play an active role in connecting the dots between bunker suppliers and buyers to aggregate demand, build infrastructure and scale for the uptake of these fuels.

With this partnership approach, we can exchange knowledge on best practices and give bunker buyers and suppliers the confidence to invest in alternative fuel infrastructure development.

MT: How did the firm reach its milestone of having 100 biofuel supply locations around the world? Does the firm aim to take it to a higher number of locations in the coming FY? If yes, could you share with us the goal and locations?

Sørensen: We recognize the importance of ensuring the right fuel is available for our clients on their trade lanes. To enable this, we have actively been partnering up with suppliers across the world to ensure that we can complete trials and deliveries of biofuels (and LNG) for our clients.

MT: The company has noted that marine fuel demand has been rising along the route via South Africa in its statement on the FY. Is the company taking any steps to leverage this and how?

Grønborg: What we have seen is customers taking on more fuel in Asia as they travel on the East-West route, and volumes have been rising for those vessels that are able to bunker that much. Elsewhere along the route, we have seen increased volumes, in particular in Durban and Las Palmas.

We have always been able to supply in these locations and clients have asked us to do so in the past, but as routes have been forced to change, the demand in these locations has increased. For us it means working with our partners to make sure we have the volumes they want, wherever they want them.

MT: What will be KPI OceanConnect’s focus for the bunkering market in Asia, particularly in Singapore, for FY 2024/2025?

Sørensen: When it comes to the Asian bunkering market, we are still in the relatively early days of transitioning to alternative fuels. This is because there is currently little regulatory or financial incentive to adopt these future fuels.

Still, there are clear indicators that China will continue to build up its LNG and biofuel infrastructure, which means that it will be able to better support regional players who are first movers.

Singapore is a key bunkering hub and we have been working closely with the MPA to understand its plans to encourage the uptake of alternative fuels and establish the necessary infrastructure.

As a market leader across the region, we see it as our role to support our stakeholders by sharing our knowledge and insight on alternative fuels.

By working in partnership with suppliers, we can help them find a market and reassure ship owners and operators that they will be able to access fuel supplies as they adopt new technologies.

This may mean working with multiple suppliers to ensure bunker buyers can meet their fuel demands. As a marine energy service and solutions provider, we have the scale, resources and reach to be able to connect both sides of the equation and continue fuelling global trade.

Photo credit: KPI OceanConnect
Published: 23 August, 2024

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BHP and GCMD trial multi-feedstock B100 bio bunker fuel on bulk carrier

Bio-blend in the BHP and GCMD pilot is being used on a BHP-chartered bulk carrier “Berge Lyngor”, which was bunkered in Singapore in early May.

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June 3, 2026

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BHP and GCMD trial multi-feedstock B100 bio bunker fuel on bulk carrier

BHP and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Wednesday (3 June) said they have blended biofuels from two distinct feedstocks—used cooking oil and waste animal fats —and introduced the lower-emissions marine fuel into a BHP-chartered bulk carrier as part of a pilot project.

The bio-blend in the BHP and GCMD pilot is being used on a BHP-chartered bulk carrier Berge Lyngor, owned and operated by Berge Bulk, transporting BHP iron ore from Western Australia to China. When run on bio-blend, the vessel has the potential to reduce well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 79 per cent per voyage compared to sailing on very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO).

The vessel bunkered in Singapore in early May with a B100 bio-blend comprising 50 percent tallow-derived biodiesel, sourced and supplied by HAMR Energy, and 50 per cent used cooking oil (UCOME) supplied by Mitsui & Co Energy Trading Singapore (METS).

Mitsui also blended the fuel and Dan-Bunkering coordinated and executed the bunkering operation, which was performed by Global Energy’s barge MT Maple.

The BHP and GCMD pilot will assess how biofuels from multiple feedstocks can be blended, handled, and introduced under real-world operating conditions using existing used cooking oil bunkering infrastructure.

At the same time, insights from this pilot will help identify solutions to challenges related to fuel quality, handling, traceability, and onboard vessel performance.

Biofuels for global shipping today rely heavily on used cooking oil – a feedstock whose availability is approaching its projected limits. Biofuel from waste animal fats presents a promising option to expand the supply of lower-emissions marine fuels.

The outcomes of the pilot are expected to shed light on the practical steps to integrate biofuel blends from different feedstocks into existing supply chains. The diversity of biofuels will provide shipowners and operators with greater flexibility to optimise fuel procurement based on cost, availability, and lifecycle emissions performance.

Biofuels derived from different feedstocks can exhibit varying properties that may impact operations, including potential corrosion from oxidation, fuel system clogging caused by wax formation, which this pilot aims to assess.

The pilot will trace and verify the biofuel blend’s integrity aimed at bolstering confidence in emissions reductions reporting. The pilot will also provide insights into how robust tracing can support future marine fuel supply chains where biofuels from multiple feedstocks with varying lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions footprints are blended together.

This project is co-funded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore under the Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund (MINT).

Photo credit: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
Published: 3 June, 2026

Biofuel

NYK starts one-year B100 bio bunker fuel trial on car carrier

In this trial, NYK will operate a car carrier continuously on B100 for one year to evaluate the impact on engines, fuel supply systems, and operational practices.

Published

17 hours ago

June 3, 2026

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NYK starts one-year B100 bio bunker fuel trial on car carrier

Japanese shipping firm NYK on Tuesday (2 June) said it has commenced a one-year long-term trial involving the continuous use of 100% biofuel (B100) on an NYK-operated car carrier.

In this trial, NYK will operate a car carrier continuously on B100 for one year to evaluate the impact on engines, fuel supply systems, and operational practices. High-purity biofuels such as B100 are known to be susceptible to degradation from oxygen, light, and heat, raising concerns about the stability of such fuels during long-term use.

In this trial, the biofuel primarily comprises FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) derived from used cooking oil and similar feedstocks.

The initiative is designed to evaluate the fuel’s effects on the vessel’s equipment and verify operational safety under real-world conditions.

Through this effort, NYK seeks to accumulate technical expertise that will support the broader use of high-purity biofuels and further accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

NYK has been advancing the use of biofuels through various initiatives. In 2024, the company conducted a trial using biofuel blend B24 and subsequently expanded practical usage to B30. However, the company said there remains limited global experience with the long-term continuous use of B100.

“By collecting long-term operational data through this trial, NYK aims to accumulate valuable technical insights to support both the safe operation of vessels and the wider adoption of high-purity biofuels,” it said.

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 3 June, 2026

Ammonia

AM Green plans to build green ammonia plant at Indian port

Initiative also includes development of green ammonia handling, storage and bunkering infrastructure, pilot bunkering operations, safety procedures and training programmes, says VOC Port Authority.

Published

17 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Admin

VO Chidambaranar (VOC) Port Authority on Friday (29 May) said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s ammonia producer AM Green Ammonia to collaborate in the development of a green ammonia production plant.

The plant will have a capacity of one million tonnes per annum (MTPA) at Tuticorin.

The initiative also includes development of green ammonia handling, storage and bunkering infrastructure, pilot bunkering operations, safety procedures and training programmes.

The project is expected to support the development of green fuel corridors connecting VOC Port with major ports in Europe and Asia, thereby strengthening India’s position in the global green fuels value chain.

VOC Port also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bureau Veritas (India) Pvt. Ltd., to collaborate on Green Port certification, emissions accounting, ESG reporting, safety validation, development of green bunkering practices, and establishment of a Centre of Excellence for green fuels and sustainability.

The port also plans for an upcoming 750 m³ green methanol bunkering facility.

Photo credit: Naveed Ahmed on Unsplash
Published: 3 June, 2026