Singapore’s annual liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering capacity is expected to hit 1 million tonnes by 2021, says Reuters.
Cleaner shipping fuel
As Singapore, the world’s largest marine refuelling hub transitions toward cleaner shipping fuels, it is expected to reach 1 million tonnes by 2021 says a senior minister of state.
The push is part of the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) aim to halve the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 from 2008 levels.
LNG a viable transitional fuel
Chee Hong Tat, Singapore’s senior minister of state for the Ministry of Transport said to meet the IMO’s 2050 goal, LNG is a viable transitional fuel to mitigate CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions from ships.
MPA’s RFP
To expand its capacity, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore “will be launching the Request for Proposal in the coming weeks to issue additional LNG bunker supplier licences,” he said at the virtual Singapore International Bunkering Conference.
For more information read our article Singapore MPA To Add Two More LNG Bunker Suppliers
Licensing regime
Singapore is the only port globally that implements a licensing regime for bunkering suppliers and craft operators.
It is the world’s largest marine refuelling hub with annual sales volumes of about 50 million tonnes of bunkers.
First ship-to-ship LNG fuel transfer
Singapore provided more than 270 truck-to-ship LNG bunkering services this year so far. Chee said it is likely to offer its first ship-to-ship LNG fuel transfer by the first quarter of 2021 and a total of about 300 STS LNG bunkering operations.
Investment for fuel research
Beyond LNG, the city state also plans to invest in the search for cleaner alternative fuels.
MoC on future fuels
“Today, the MPA, the Port of Rotterdam (Netherlands) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan, will be signing a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) on a future fuels port network,” said Chee.
“The MoC will allow for the development of a roadmap on the adoption of future marine fuels to support decarbonisation.”
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Source: Reuters
