State-owned Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. on Thursday said it has commenced delivery of fuel for ships that is compliant with International Maritime Organisation’s low sulphur mandate.
In a statement, the company said it commenced deliveries of IMO-2020-compliant Low Sulphur Furnace Oil with 0.5 percent sulphur as marine fuel at Indian ports.
“The first such supply was made on Oct. 26, 2019, to the LPG tanker Berlian Ekuator at Kandla port,” it said.
Indian Oil has made available LSFO 0.5 percent S grade marine fuel for immediate deliveries at Kandla and Kochi ports.
“Bunker fuel deliveries at other Indian ports Mumbai, Mangalore, Tuticorin, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Haldia shall start by mid-November,” it said.
Indian Oil had earlier unveiled two new IMO 2020-compliant marine fuel grades as well as a range of marine lubricants specifically formulated and complaint with IMO 2020 low sulphur marine fuel specifications in Mumbai.
“The LSFO 0.5 percent S grade is produced from sweet crude oil grades with kinematic viscosity in the range of 220-270 cSt and complies with ISO 8217:2017 RMG380 standard," IOC said. "This fuel addresses all quality considerations detailed by the International Organization of Standardisation in its recently released ISO 23263:2019 document including the Spot test for Compatibility.”
IOC is the largest oil refiner and marketer in India.
With extensive refining, distribution and marketing infrastructure and advanced R&D facilities, IOC endeavours to ensure India’s energy security and self-sufficiency in refining and marketing of petroleum products for past six decades, providing energy access to millions of people across the length and breadth of the country including the 7,517 kilometre long Indian coastline.