BPC imports eco-friendly low-sulphur fuel

The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has imported 15,000 tonnes of environment-friendly fuel containing 0.5 percent sulphur, as per the instructions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The MT-TMN Pride Ship arrived at the Dolphin Jetty of Chittagong Port on Monday (September 14) with the first eco-efficient fuel consignment.

Starting to import this low-sulphur fuel will ensure fuel collection at local ports with equivalent standards to international ports.

The member organisations of Bangladesh Bunker Suppliers Association (BBSA) joined hands with Padma Oil Company Limited, Meghna Oil Company Limited and Jamuna Oil Company Limited to supply furnace oil with 0.5% sulphur content.

After the first phase of imports, BPC took the initiative to import about 12 lakh tonnes of sulphur-rich oil for six months in the second phase.

Six years ago, the IMO directed its member states to start using low-sulphur fuel, which came into effect in January 2020.

The IMO, in its 2019 guidelines, recommended banning ships from carrying fuel with more than 0.5 percent sulphur–to reduce marine pollution. Before the new guidelines, ships all over the world, including 35 in Bangladesh, used furnace oil with 3.5 percent sulphur content.

Ninety-five percent of the shipping companies worldwide have switched over to low-sulphur fuel to comply with the environmentally-friendly recommendation.

The enforcement of the new IMO regulation has made shippers look for costlier low-sulphur fuels on the Singapore market, resulting in a hike in freight charges.

BPC organized a program to mark the event, where its Chairman Shamsur Rahman was present as a chief guest. BPC Director (Operations and Marketing) Syed Mehdi Hasan, Senior General Manager Md. Abu Hanif, Managing Director of Padma Oil Company Limited Md Masudur Rahman, Managing Director of Meghna Oil Company Limited Mir Saifullah-al-Khaled, Managing Director of Jamuna Oil Company Limited Md Gias Uddin Ansari, Bangladesh Bunker Suppliers Association President Mizanur Rahman Mazumder, General Secretary Abdul Razzak, and others were also present.