Astomos, INPEX Complete Middle East's First Ever Marine Biofuel Supply to VLGC
Tokyo, Japan - Astomos Energy Corporation and INPEX CORPORATION, announced they completed the supply of B24 biofuel bunker to a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) chartered by Astomos.
Based on an agreement between the two parties announced1 on May 11, 2023, INPEX supplied B24 biofuel to the VLGC “LYCASTE PEACE” at Sharjah port in the emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 21 through the bunker vessel “MONJASA SHAKER” operated by Monjasa2 . This marked the first instance in which biofuel was supplied to a VLGC in the Middle East. LYCASTE PEACE safely completed the use of the B24 biofuel on June 5.
B24 biofuel consists of 24 percent fatty acid methyl ester (FAME3 ) and 76 percent very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO), a conventional bunker fuel. Dubai-based Neutral Fuels4 produced the FAME used in the supplied B24 biofuel from waste cooking oil collected from restaurants and hotels in the UAE. Monjasa supplied the VLSFO and blended it with the FAME. The International Sustainability & Carbon Certification system, which covers various bio-based feedstocks and renewables, certified the FAME.
Astomos and INPEX have a track record of pursuing a joint initiative toward the realization of a carbon neutral society, including entering a carbon neutral propane gas sales and purchase agreement5 in September 2021. The recent biofuel bunker supply in the Middle East is in line with this initiative, which the companies will take steps to accelerate including expanding the supply of biofuel bunker.
1 Astomos, INPEX Agree to Supply Middle East’s First Ever Marine Biofuel for VLGC
2 Monjasa is a global partner in the oil and shipping industries and among the world’s 10 largest marine fuel suppliers with a fleet of 30 vessels and total volume of around 6 million tons yearly.
3 FAME is an abbreviation of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester. The ingredient determines designations. (e.g., UCOME (Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester), PME (Palm Methyl Ester), RME (Rapeseed Methyl Ester), SME (Soybean Methyl Ester), TME (Tallow Methyl Ester)). The B24 biofuel INPEX will supply consists of 24 percent FAME and 76 percent VLSFO.
4 Neutral Fuels was founded in 2011 in the Emirate of Dubai and produces biodiesel from waste cooking oil collected from restaurants and hotels in the UAE.
5 Astomos Energy and INPEX Sign Carbon Neutral Propane Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement
LYCASTE PEACE specifications
|
Length |
230.00 meters |
|
Width |
36.60 meters |
|
Designed draft |
10.782 meters |
|
Gross tonnage |
46,021.00 tons |
|
Cargo capacity |
49,999.00 tons |
|
Year built |
2003 |
|
Shipbuilder |
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. |
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