Sri Lanka’s China-backed Hambantota Port and Sinopec said High Sulphur Fuel Oil has been added to the range of ship fuels.
The HSFO is stored in 6,000 cubic meters of storage in two tanks in at the port, which can transfer 400 metric tonnes per hour.
“The facility has advanced monitoring and remote-control systems, guaranteeing precise, safe operations,” Hambantota Port said.
“It will provide significant convenience to ship owners with vessels using scrubbers, who opt for HFSO for its cost-effective, advanced scrubbing systems while meeting IMO 2020 sulfur cap regulations.”
Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) and Marine Gas Oil (MGO/MDO) are already available in Hambantota.
Sinopec Fuel Oil Lanka (Pvt) Ltd said the absence of shore-based storage for HSFO in Sri Lanka’s ports has restricted the availability of the fuel to small quantities restricting the shipping industry’s ability to secure reliable fuel supplies, impacting maritime operations and efficiency.
“By leveraging our storage capabilities in Hambantota, we ensure that vessels calling at Sri Lankan ports have access to consistent and high-quality HSFO supplies,” Alice Lee, Deputy General Manager, Sinopec Fuel Oil Lanka (Pvt) Ltd said in a statement.
“This move supports the growth of Sri Lanka’s maritime sector and reinforces the country’s potential as a preferred refueling destination in South Asia.”
Sinopec Fuel Oil Lanka (Private) Limited (SFOL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinopec Fuel Oil Sales Corporation Limited. Established.
A consignment of 5,000 metric tonnes of HSFO and 20,000 metric tonnes of VLSFO was discharged from the vessel Grand Ace 10 on January 30 and February 01.