October 17, 2017:

Russian refining and production company Gazprom Neft has produced its first ultra-low sulphur fuel oil to meet the requirements of the emissions control areas (ECA) as laid out in IMO’s MARPOL protocol.  The Omsk Refinery developed a catalytic cracking technology in 2016 for producing marine fuel oils that meet or fall below the 0.1% limit required to comply with the MARPOL ECA standards. The fuel has also been certified to comply with the Eurasian Economic Community regulations.  According to Gazprom Neft, a subsidiary of the majority state-owned Russian gas and oil giant PAO Gazprom, the new fuel formulation – RMG-80 – includes an additive that reduces reciprocal viscosity temperature and prevents wax settlement in the fuel.  The Omsk Refinery said it plans to ship as much as 50,000 tonnes of the low-sulphur marine fuel by the end of 2017, estimating the total market potential for the product at 158,000 tonnes per year.  As part of modernisation works to prepare itself to produce the ultra-low sulphur fuel oil, Omsk Refinery’s commercial production facilities underwent an extensive reconstruction estimated to have cost US$3.5M. During the facility’s upgrade, more than 3 km of pipeline was installed and its overhead rail loading rack was updated.  In addition to meeting the MARPOL ECA standards, the oil is one of many potential options available to shipowners and operators trying to ensure compliance with the IMO’s Tier III sulphur regulations, which limit vessel sulphur emissions to 0.5% and are due to come into force globally in 2020. A recent Exxon survey of the maritime industry found that some 70% of vessel operators remain underprepared for the upcoming regulations.   

By www.tankershipping.com