Guangzhou Produces First Sulphur Marine Fuel state-owned oil firm Sinopec has confirmed that its Guangzhou refinery has started producing very low sulphur fuel (VLSFO) for the shipping market.
Reuters reported that a 1,600-tonne cargo was Guangzhou refinery’s first batch of VLSFO production, delivered to a vessel at Sinopec fuel Sales Co via pipeline.
Sinopec said the VLSFO at Guangzhou refinery may be a blend of fossil oil and diesel. Last month, Sinopec QiLu Petrochemical Company delivered its first batch of VLSFO in Shandong.
The main style of “bunker” oil for ships is heavy fuel, derived as a residue from rock oil distillation. rock oil contains sulphur which, following combustion within the engine, lands up in ship emissions.
Sulphur oxides (SOx) are known to be harmful to human health, causing respiratory symptoms and lung disease. Within the atmosphere, SOx can result in acid precipitation, which might harm crops, forests and aquatic species, and contributes to the acidification of the oceans.
Limiting SOx emissions from ships will improve air quality and protects the environment.
IMO regulations to scale back sulphur oxides (SOx) emissions from ships first came into force in 2005, under Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (known because the MARPOL Convention). Since then, the bounds on sulphur oxides are progressively tightened.
From 1 January 2020, the limit for sulphur in fuel used on board ships operating outside designated emission control areas is reduced to 0.50% m/m (mass by mass). this may significantly reduce the number of sulphur oxides emanating from ships and may have major health and environmental benefits for the planet, particularly for populations living near ports and coasts.
The parent firm Sinopec had announced in June last year that it intends to build VLSFO production capacity to 10m tonnes and 15m tonnes by 2020 and 2023, respectively.
The need for ships to use VLSFO follows Guangzhou Produces First Sulphur the IMO 2020 global regulation that mandates all ocean-going ships to burn marine fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 0.5%.
Asia’s top petroleum refinery Sinopec said on Monday that its Guangzhou refinery is in a position to supply very low-sulphur fuel (VLSFO) for the marine bunker fuel market.
The 1,600-tonne cargo was Guangzhou’s first batch of VLSFO production and was delivered to the vessel at Sinopec fuel Sales Co via pipeline
The marine fuel at Guangzhou refinery was mixed with fossil oil and diesel, said Sinopec.
