Argus Media: Covid-19 hits bunker fuel loading at Singapore terminal

Sammy Six of global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus Media on Wednesday (13 October) reported on the increase of Covid-19 cases affecting bunker barge loading operations at a Singapore terminal.

A new Covid-19 cluster on Jurong island is causing delays to barge loadings of bunker fuel in Singapore, according to local market participants. 

The cluster, which emerged a few days ago, is impacting operations at Universal Terminal, which is Singapore’s biggest independent oil storage terminal with 2.33mn m³ (14.7mn bl) of capacity and part owned by state-controlled PetroChina International (Singapore). The terminal consists of 78 storage tanks and 15 jetties, of which two can berth fully-laden very-large crude carriers.

“The queue of barges waiting to load is getting longer and the loading duration is lengthening as well,” according to a local supplier.

The terminal is apparently short-staffed because of the outbreak. “Mooring crews are in short supply in Jurong, especially at Universal Terminal,” said a local bunker trader.

Several market participants said they have been dealing with delays since last weekend. Loadings of high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) and very low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) are particularly affected, more so than for low-sulphur marine gas oil (LSMGO).

Meanwhile, demand for bunkers in the city-state is softening because of rapidly rising crude oil prices. This should help limit the adverse effects of interrupted services.

Singapore has seen a surge in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks, rising from around 1,000/d in mid-September to about 3,000/d in the past seven days, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 14 October, 2021