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SIBCON 2022 Interview: ExxonMobil to invest more than USD $15bn on GHG reduction initiatives by 2027

Haur-Bin Chua, Regional Commercial Fuels Sales Director, Marine, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific, discusses market dynamics, the adoption of MFM technology, and digitalisation of the bunkering value chain with Manifold Times.

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Haur Bin Chua

The following interview with Haur-Bin Chua, Regional Commercial Fuels Sales Director, Marine, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, is part of coverage for Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON) 2022, where Manifold Times is an official media partner.

MT: As an oil major capable of producing its own VLSFO, how has market dynamics changed for the company in Singapore after the introduction of major trading houses as bunker suppliers at the republic over the past few years?

At a macro level, the introduction of more bunker suppliers in Singapore promotes competition and innovation. This further improves Singapore status as a major regional bunkering and trading hub.

Furthermore, the increase in the number of suppliers also provides more choice to customers. Different suppliers have different areas of focus, and it is fundamentally important for fuel purchasers to know their suppliers. ExxonMobil’s focus as a responsible producer and supplier is to ensure that our fuels not only meet the IMO Sulphur mandate and ISO 8217-2017 standards, but also pass rigorous fit-for-use assessments for reliability and performance. We formulate our fuels with proprietary patented technology that helps identify and mitigate potential compatibility issues during the development process.

MT: ExxonMobil chartered the first MFM-equipped bunker tankers “Emissary” and “Jewel” during trials at the Republic and seems to be a supporter of MFM bunkering operations; does the firm have any plans to expand the use of MFM technology for bunkering operations to other parts of the world?

When it comes to marine fuel bunkering, having accurate and transparent data translates to cost benefits for our customers. It also allows vessel operators peace of mind when receiving bunker supply through MFM system.

We are very proud to be one of the pioneers for the MFM system. ExxonMobil was the first company to:

  • Market with a port authority approved MFM system
  • Guarantee delivery by a MFM system in Singapore
  • Deliver more than 1 million tons via MFM system
  • Launch an independently accredited MFM system in Hong Kong

Beyond Singapore where MFM is mandated, ExxonMobil has MFM implemented onboard its bunkering barges in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) ports as well as in France and Hong Kong.

MT: Digitalisation has been gaining pace around the world. The marine industry, including the bunkering sector, has been slow to pick it up. With data from MFM measurements already being digital, how should the bunkering industry should move towards digitalisation and transparency?

With digitalisation, there is value in exchanging data within an ecosystem to capture efficiencies and improve supply chain visibility. In Singapore, SGTradex was created as a result of Singapore Together Alliance for Action (AfA) on supply chain digitalisation. ExxonMobil is one of the participants working with the taskforce to explore ways to integrate disparate data into one supply chain common data infrastructure.

MT: What is ExxonMobil’s direction for alternative bunker fuels? Have any trends been spotted?

For the maritime industry, alternative low carbon options may co-exist in a multi-fuels future to address the specific needs of different shipping subsectors. Each of these options may present their own commercial and operational challenges, but to be successful, they will need to be safe, scalable, reliable, and viable.

In the near term, biofuels are an engine-ready alternative that can be used in existing engines without the need for extensive modifications. These biofuels have the potential to reduce GHG emissions by at least one-third compared with conventional marine fuel oil. ExxonMobil is already supplying marine biofuel in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region and recently, we have successfully completed a commercial bio-based marine fuel oil bunkering in the port of Singapore.

On the longer term, from Well-to-Wake basis, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen are promising alternatives to reduce the carbon footprint of shipping. However, one of their challenges is their lower energy content and the comparatively lower amount of energy they can store in the tanks of a ship. Ship designs would require changes to accommodate fuel containment and gas-supply systems or frequent bunkering.

To accelerate the deployment of these alternative bunker fuels in this hard to decarbonise marine sector, the right regulatory policies have to be in place. ExxonMobil advocates for a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) to provide a predictable long-term pathway of reductions in carbon intensity (CI) of the fuel pool to support the IMO’s ambition of reducing GHG emissions from shipping. To enable this, policy should include the following attributes:

  • Set declining annual targets for the Well-to-Wake CI of the consumed marine fuels expressed in gCO2equivalent/MJ
  • Be technology neutral to encourage multiple pathways and innovation
  • Provide flexibility to manage investments in the fleets and the growth of lower GHG emission emerging technologies and energy
  • Support lower-carbon fuels, as the life cycle assessment approach helps to provide an effective tool for comparing alternative fuels
  • Include reporting of the fuel CI on the Bunker Delivery Notes
  • In case of non-compliance, a pre-determined buy-out could provide revenues to a global fund dedicated to the marine sector

As a major marine fuel supplier, ExxonMobil supports the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with a plan to be part of the solution. To provide solutions in the multi-fuels future, we are investigating several potentially viable alternatives to conventional fuel formulations including biofuels, hydrogen, methanol and ammonia. By 2027 we plan to invest more than $15bn on initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our commitment to driving emission reductions in support of a net-zero future is outlined in our Advancing Climate Solutions – 2022 Progress Report.

 

Photo credit: ExxonMobil
Published: 12 October, 2022

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Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

4.59 million mt of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in June, up from 4.27 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2024, according to MPA.

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Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port increased by 7.5% on year in June 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.59 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,594,700 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in June, up from 4.27 million mt (4,274,900 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in June (against on year) recorded respectively 1.70 million mt (+8.6% from 1.56 million mt), 2.31 million mt (-7.2% from 2.33 million mt), 1,900 mt (from zero), 4,500 mt (-88% from 8,000 mt) and zero (from zero).

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in June (against on year) recorded respectively 38,800 mt (+671.7% from 2,500 mt), 114,300 mt (+97.9% from 45,400 mt), zero (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero). B100 biofuel bunkers, introduced in February this year, recorded 1,000 mt of deliveries in June.

LNG and methanol sales were respectively 55,400 mt (-7.8% from 51,700) and zero (from zero mt). There were no recorded sales of ammonia for the month and so far in 2025.

Related: Singapore: Bunker sales volume raises to year record high of 4.88 million mt in May
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 4% on year in April 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 0.5% on year in March 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 8.1% on year in February 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 9.1% on year in January 2025

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes reported by Manifold Times tracked since 2018 can be found via the link here.

 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 15 July 2025

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Alternative Fuels

ITOCHU orders world’s first ammonia bunkering vessel for Singapore demonstration project

Company contracted Sasaki Shipbuilding to build the 5,000 m3 vessel and Izumi Steel Works to construct an ammonia tank plant that will be loaded onto the vessel, which is expected to be delivered in 2027.

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ITOCHU orders world’s first ammonia bunkering vessel for Singapore demonstration project

ITOCHU Corporation (ITOCHU) on Monday (14 July) announced that it recently signed a shipbuilding contract for the construction of a 5,000 m3 ammonia bunkering vessel with Sasaki Shipbuilding. 

The company also announced an agreement regarding the construction of an ammonia tank plant that will be loaded onto the vessel with Izumi Steel Works. 

These agreements were signed by Clean Ammonia Bunkering Shipping Pte Ltd (CABS), a wholly owned Singapore-based specific purpose company of ITOCHU. 

In relation to this, CABS has concluded a financing agreement with The Hiroshima Bank for financing a part of purchase price of the vessel.

The agreements were concluded to pursue the Demonstration Project for Bunkering Ammonia as Marine Fuel in Singapore adopted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan as part of the Global South Future-oriented Co-Creation Project (large-scale demonstration in ASEAN member states). 

Going forward, with an eye toward the demonstration of ammonia bunkering in Singapore after building the world’s first newbuilding ammonia bunkering vessel, ITOCHU said efforts will be made to facilitate concrete discussions with the maritime stakeholders, including the port authority in Singapore, the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), and the fuel producers, while obtaining support from the Japanese Government.

The vessel is to be flagged under the Singapore Registry and is expected to be delivered in September 2027.

ITOCHU will establish a safe offshore bunkering operation of ammonia as marine fuel by way of ship-to-ship transfer through the development and construction of the vessel and demonstration. 

Then, by utilising the vessel, ITOCHU will establish connection between the first movers in clean ammonia production and the first movers in the ammonia-fueled vessels and secure initial demand for ammonia as marine fuel, aiming at the commercialisation of ammonia bunkering business in Singapore and expansion of similar business model to major maritime transportation points around the world, including Spain (Strait of Gibraltar), Egypt (Suez Canal) and Japan.

 

Photo credit: ITOCHU Corporation
Published: 15 July 2025

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Biofuel

Chimbusco Pan Nation delivers first B30-MGO bio bunker fuel blend supply in Hong Kong

The supply, delivered to Orient Overseas Container Line, represents the first time OOCL has received this fuel blend in the region; operation also included a simultaneous delivery of B30-HSFO.

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Chimbusco Pan Nation delivers first B30-MGO bio bunker fuel blend supply in Hong Kong

Hong Kong-based marine fuel oil supplier Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical (CPN) on Friday (11 July) announced the first-ever delivery of a B30-Marine Gasoil (B30-MGO) which consists of 30% biodiesel and 70% Marine Gasoil (MGO), in Hong Kong. 

The supply, delivered to Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), represents the first time OOCL has received this fuel blend in the region.

In addition to the B30-MGO, this operation included a simultaneous delivery of B30-High Sulphur Marine Fuel Oil.

“This delivery, completed on 11 July, solidifies CPN’s leadership in advancing green fuel solutions in East Asia. Being the first bunker supplier in the region capable of providing all grades of ISCC-EU Certified marine biofuel, including marine fuel and gas oil, CPN demonstrates its commitment to supporting the maritime industry’s transition to sustainable energy,” the company said on its website. 

 

Photo credit: Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical
Published: 15 July, 2025

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