Organisers of the 12th International Fujairah Bunkering and Fuel Oil Forum (Fujcon 2021 Virtual) on Monday (8 March) said the event is gathering steam rapidly, with the confirmation of a Ministerial Address by His Excellency Eng. Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister for Energy and Infrastructure, UAE on Tuesday, 23 March.

Forty-five other international speakers have also confirmed their attendance to address the Forum.

FUJCON is held biennially under the auspices of the Government of Fujairah & the Port of Fujairah and FOIZ, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah & Member of the UAE Supreme Council.

The Official Opening for Fujcon 2021 Virtual will take place at 10.00 am (GST) on Tuesday, 23 March, to be chaired by Mohamed Obaid Bin Majed Al Aleeli, Director-General, Fujairah Department of Industry and Economy, with a Welcome Address by Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi, Chairman of the Fujcon 2021 Steering Committee, prior to the Ministerial Address.

This will be followed by three Keynote Addresses by eminent thought leaders on the impact of COVID-19 on the crude, fuel oil and marine markets: 

• Dr. Fereidun Fesharaki, Chairman, FGE is to deliver the State-of-the-Global Oil & Gas Markets Outlook-Impact of COVID.
• Michael Muller, President of Vitol Asia will deliver the State-of-the-Global Fuel Oil and Bunkering Outlook.
• Roel Hoenders, Head Air Pollution & Energy Efficiency, Marine Environment Division, IMO, will give the IMO Address reviewing the status of IMO 2020’s implementation one year on and the road map for IMO’s GHG Strategy.

Under the theme “Fuelling the Future: Solutions & Challenges” speakers will examine both key post COVID19 and IMO 2020 scenarios, addressing commercial and technical aspects of the outlook for oil and bunker markets, prices and demand uncertainty, spreads between VLSFO, HSFO and MGO, blending practices and the increasing market share for LSFO, bunker fuel procurement patterns and the future fuels landscape with the role of LPG, LNG, Methanol and Hydrogen.

The status of scrubbers, ship efficiency indices under GHG, shifting crude slates and refined product demand post COVID-19 and the large scale adoption and technical challenges of digital technologies will also be addressed in eight distinct panels from 23-24 March.

Through presentations and roundtable discussions, over the two-day event, 45 visionaries, key decision makers, thought leaders and marine experts will be sharing their views, analysis and insights on the global bunker and fuel oil market developments, and challenges to be tackled by the fuel oil and maritime industry in paving the road to recovery post the global pandemic.

Forum speakers and session moderators include:

• Katharina Stanzel, Managing Director, Intertanko,
• Captain Rahul Choudhuri, Managing Director, Asia, ME & Africa, VPS
• Andrew Laven, COO Sahara Energy,
• Neill Robertson-Jones, Head of Corporate Banking, National Bank of Fujairah,
• Unni Einemo, Director, IBIA,
• Sharief Al Awadhi, Director-General, Fujairah Free Zone Authority,
• Gary Hubbard, Chief Commercial Officer Neutral Fuels, plus digitalization specialists
• Soren Meyer, CEO Zero North,
• Deanna MacDonald, CEO& Founder Bloc/BunkerTrace
• Kevin Peng, Managing Director, Brightree.

A special highlight of the two-day deliberations will be an update on the key developments in Fujairah in the two years since the last Forum, showcasing its growth as a global oil and products storage and trading hub.

Captain Salem Al Hamoudi, Director, Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, Captain Mayed Alameiry, Deputy Harbour Master and Martijn Heijboer, Business Development Manager, Port of Fujairah and Siavash Alishapur, Managing Director VTTI will share on the key milestones achieved in Fujairah.

Port of Fujairah’s Offshore Anchorage which remains one of the largest maritime hubs, with over 13,100 vessel calls in 2020, will also be highlighted, in particular how the Port of Fujairah responded to the Covid-19 outbreak.

In 2019 a record amount of oil was moved across its facilities, the jetties and between the terminals, boosted by IMO 2020 preparations. Despite the Covid related challenges, strong market resilience resulted in almost equal volumes for 2020.

The upward trend continues in 2021 and various terminals are seeking expansion and Port connection improvements to capitalize on the growth development, especially for Crude.

Fujairah is keen to further improve market transparency and it is expected that an announcement will be made during Fujcon on its efforts in this area.

Also being discussed on Tuesday, 23 March, are the new Initiatives of ADNOC Sales & Trading and the IFAD Launch, at a Fireside Chat with Philippe Khoury, EVP Sales and Trading and Dave Ernsberger, Global Head of Content & Market Insights, S & P Global Platts.

The Murban contract, a physically delivered contract, basis FOB Fujairah is seen as an exciting new development, with expected increase in demand for third party crude oil storage, enhancing Fujairah’s prospects with its state-of-the-art marine infrastructure and well developed refined products trading environment.

The Forum is held as part of the Fujairah Bunkering Week (FBW) from 15-24 March 2021 which is expected to have participants from leading oil and bunker producers, traders, oil majors, national oil companies, shipowners, operators, managers, brokers, charterers, terminal operators, refiners and classification societies, from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.

The Forum will feature over 4 industry events as part of the week, with access to virtual networking options for attendees to renew business contacts and forge new alliances at 1-2-1 audio, video and group meetings.

“The hosting of FUJCON virtually affirms the commitment of the Government of Fujairah and Port of Fujairah as hosts, to maintain not only the schedule of the biennial event but also to provide a meeting ground for the important dialogues, deliberations and discussions that have been a distinguishing feature of Fujcon since its inception and continue to provide a fitting stage for a world class event on the international bunkering community’s annual calendar,” said a Government of Fujairah spokesperson.

“Fujcon sessions will be fully interactive and accessed via an all in one platform, allowing participants to browse the Virtual Lobby, build their own agenda, access sessions – with a combination of pre-recorded and live formats for Panels, Keynotes and 1-2-1 Fireside chat. Delegates may navigate to pose questions and interact with speakers via chats, visit interactive booths and download resources up to thirty days after Fujcon 2021 ends,” added Fujcon’s organisers.

“With your virtual profile, you can see who else is at the event with pinpoint accuracy, identify, network and initiate audio and video meetings with key leads and prospects, before the Forum starts and after it ends, replicating the in person experience of the physical Fujcon”.

Three optional pre-conference workshops from 15-22 March, giving participants a wide choice of fuel oil disciplines, will offer coverage and in-depth analysis on International Oil Trading, The Science of Buying Bunker Fuels, Practical Handling of VLSFO and ULSMGO 2020 and 2030 trends of Alternative Fuels examining the impact of new maritime regulations, while providing extensive learning opportunities with numerous case studies and guest presentations.

FUJCON as the pre-eminent bunkering gathering in the Middle East, enjoys the outstanding support of authorities and the global bunker trading community from the Asia Pacific & Europe. 

ADNOC Logistics & Services, Glander International Bunkering Ltd, National Bank of Fujairah, Sahara Energy DMCC, S&P Global Platts, VTTI Fujairah and VPS have taken a high profile at FUJCON 2021 as sponsors.

The Forum also enjoys support from Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, IBIA, Intertanko, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers ME and the Nautical Institute UAE Branch, as Endorsers, attracting wide interest and coverage from the global maritime media.

Fujcon attendance and the pre-conference courses can be accessed here.

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Photo credit: Fujcon 2021
Published: 15 March, 2021