First South African 0.5pc fuel available next month

BP and Shell created this month a first batch of 0.5pc sulphur marine fuel oil at their 180,000 b/d joint venture Sapref refinery in Durban, South Africa, and they will start supplying it in the nearby port from November.

Sapref's offering is notable for its viscosity of 24cst, which is significantly lower than samples in other locations. A collection of samples from northwest Europe vary between 151-234cst, from Singapore between 118-248cst and from Malaysia between 141-371cst.

Bunker customers in South Africa are used to low viscosity fuel. The most popular high-sulphur marine fuel oil supplied there is usually around 180cst, compared with 380cst supplied in northwest Europe, Singapore and Malaysia. Vessels bunkering at South African ports tend to be older, and cannot easily burn the less expensive and more viscous 380cst.

Refiners and blenders used to think more about viscosity — the two main high-sulphur bunker grades were classed as 380cst and 180cst. But now the marine fuel and shipping industries transition from high- to low-sulphur marine fuels, to meet the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) 0.5pc sulphur cap, the new key specification to meet is sulphur content.

The new 0.5pc sulphur fuel tested within all the maximum specification limits such as density, flash point and pour point. It will be available on the South African market next month, although this was not confirmed with the refiner.

Durban is a major bunkering location, selling mainly to dry bulk and container vessels. The port is supplied with marine fuels by Engen's 105,000 b/d Durban refinery and by Sapref.

source: Argus Media