Qatar Petroleum, the world’s largest LNG producer, has begun the supply of very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) at the Ras Laffan port.
Qatar Petroleum said that the VLSFO marine fuel offering was initiated in advance of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 regulation for a 0.50 percent global sulfur limit for marine fuels, which will come into effect January 1, 2020.
QP, in conjunction with Qatar Fuel, initiated bunkering services in Qatar in June 2017 with the importation of its maiden HFO cargo in order to cater to 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 supplied over 1.5 million tons of marine fuel to Ras Laffan, which allows the further servicing for marine fuel at the port and other ports in Qatar.
QP invited all vessel owners and operators seeking IMO 2020 compliant VLSFO to use the services available at the port and other ports in the state whenever vessels pass by any of Qatar’s ports.
Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi , Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QP, said: “ Qatar Petroleum continues to strive to achieve the highest environmental standards and to implement the best industry practices to help minimize environmental impacts.
“ 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 percent global sulfur limit.
“ We hope this constitutes a major step towards protecting the regional and global environment in line with the environmental objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030. “