Vitol enables Pakistan’s first production, delivery of IMO-compliant fuel oil

KARACHI: Vitol, a major global player in energy and commodities, has enabled Pakistan’s first production and delivery of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) compliant fuel oil, produced from the first US crude oil that arrived at the Cnergyico refinery last month.

The Vitol-owned, Singapore-flagged barge Marine Ista, with a DWT of 8,722MT, was the first bunker barge to load directly from Karachi Port Trust Oil Pier and supply the largest very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) stem to date in Pakistan, to a vessel owned and operated by MSC at the DP World Port Qasim Authority.

The fuel was part of the first large-scale production of IMO-compliant low sulphur fuel oil in Pakistan. It was produced at Pakistan’s largest refinery, Cnergyico, from the first US crude oil delivered by Vitol to be refined in Pakistan.

As part of ongoing collaboration, Cnergyico will supply Vitol with VLSFO on a continuous basis.This initiative marks a significant milestone for Pakistan’s energy and maritime sectors, enabling the local production and supply of environmentally compliant marine fuels.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Cnergyico on this milestone for Pakistan. Our global network of bunkering locations continues to expand, and our customers benefit from greater flexibility and more energy supply options,” commented Ammar Hussaini of Vitol Bunkers in a statement.

“Our new locations — Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Karachi Anchorage — will be served by our vessel, the Marine Ista, which has the capacity to supply 6,800MT of marine fuel in a single delivery, enabling large vessels to undertake long east-to-west voyages.”“We are glad to start this new business segment with Vitol Asia,” said Aumar Abbassciy, Director at Cnergyico PK Limited. “Our partnership with Vitol continues to evolve and this latest initiative enhances Pakistan’s capacity to serve the global shipping industry with sustainable fuel solutions.”

The statement attributed the milestone to close coordination with key stakeholders from the Government of Pakistan, including the Prime Minister’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Prime Minister Maritime Task Force, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Port Qasim Authority, Karachi Port Trust, Federal Board of Revenue, Department of Explosives, Ministry of Petroleum, Maritime Mercantile Department, MOMA and the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra).