Hadi Haghshenas, Deputy of maritime affairs of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization, stated that Iran’s top priority concerning the maritime industry is to use low-sulphur fuel, which is required to be observed by all vessels for the following eight months.
As Hadi Haghshenas stated
Within eight months, all vessels are required to use low sulphur fuel.
He continued that concerning the case of low-sulphur fuel, the importance of the issue was highlighted to the National Oil Company.
Iran engaged to implement low-sulphur fuels in the eight months following.
Moreover, the Deputy addressed the fact that as now IMO’s 2020 sulphur cap is approaching, the conversion of 3.5% sulphur to 0.5% in favour of the marine environment is mandatory and not optional.
The domestic fuel consumption of the vessels is 1.3 million tonnes, but the country have had a heavy investment in Bunkering, which allows them to sell low-sulphur fuel to other ships and vessels in Iran’s ports.
Yet, the Deputy concluded that they may use diesel or LNG, in the possibility of not being able to produce the standardized fuel for maritime sector.
Regarding low-sulphur fuel, it is becoming more and more available. The Port of Fujairah already has 0.5% sulphur bunker fuel available, while oil majors Shell, BP and ExxonMobil have all plans to produce low-sulphur fuel. What is more, Hainan refinery delivered its first shipment of low-sulphur bunker fuel, with Euronav using one ULCC to store low-sulphur fuel.
