Qatar Petroleum starts VLSFO bunkering at Ras Laffan port

State-owned oil company Qatar Petroleum on Monday (21 October) announced the commencement of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) bunker supply operations at Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC) Port.

The VLSFO marine fuel offering has been initiated in advance of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 regulation for a 0.50% global Sulphur limit for marine fuels which will come into effect 1st January 2020, it said.

Qatar Petroleum, in conjunction with Qatar Fuel (Woqod), initiated bunkering services in Qatar in June 2017 with the importation of its maiden HFO cargo (RMG 380 CST 3.5% Sulphur) in order to cater for the bunkering needs of both Qatargas’ LNG fleet and other vessels calling to Ras Laffan and the region.

From June 2017 through August 2019, Qatar Petroleum has successfully supplied over 1.5 million metric tonnes (mt) of marine fuel to RLIC Port.

“Qatar Petroleum continues to strive to achieve the highest environmental standards and to implement the best industry practices to help minimize environmental impacts,” said His Excellency Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum.

“We are proud to be one of the first countries to limit the availability of marine fuels to only grades that are compliant with the International Maritime Organization’s 2020 regulation for a 0.50% global Sulphur limit.

“We hope this constitutes a major step towards protecting the regional and global environment in line with environmental objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.”

Photo credit: Qatar Petroleum
Published: 22 October, 2019