PetroChina International Blends More Than 30,000 mt of Marine Biofuel

PetroChina International Co Ltd has blended more than 30,000 metric tonnes (mt) of marine biofuel since completing China’s first marine biofuel blending operation on March 13.

The company said the milestone demonstrates its capability to carry out continuous, large-scale marine biofuel blending. The operations are being developed at the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, using storage and logistics infrastructure at PetroChina International’s Aoshan base.

B24 marine fuel developed for international shipping

PetroChina International’s latest product is B24 marine fuel, containing a 24% biofuel component. According to the company, the fuel meets applicable International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements and marine fuel standards and can be supplied for bunkering vessels operating on international routes.

The company has drawn on its global trading network to secure feedstock supplies, with the aim of supporting both cost control and supply security for its blending operations.

The company said the scale-up of marine biofuel blending represents a development in China’s marine biofuel market. It plans to work with upstream and downstream companies within its group to support the development of Zhoushan Port as a major bonded marine fuel bunkering hub.

Zhejiang pilot programme established marine biofuel blending base

The development follows the launch of China’s first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

Under the initial programme, 2,000 mt of biodiesel was blended with 6,300 mt of high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) in storage tank F-02 at Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan). The operation produced 8,300 mt of B24-HSFO.

The pilot programme was followed by East China’s first cross-regional bonded bunkering operation involving blended marine biofuel at the Meishan Port Area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

The B24-HSFO used in that operation was supplied by the Aoshan Petroleum Base in Zhoushan from the initial pilot programme.

PetroChina International said it intends to continue working with businesses across its supply chain to expand marine biofuel blending and support lower-carbon energy development within its parent group.