Fuel Network News

State-owned Qatar Petroleum and the Netherlands-based oil and gas company Shell signed a shareholder agreement to establish a joint venture for global LNG bunkering services.The agreement signed by Qatar Petroleum’s Wave LNG Solutions and Shell Gas & Power Developments B.V. paves the way for the establishment of a joint venture company owned equally by both parties, subject to customary regulatory approvals.The new company’s principal business activities will include the procurement of LNG, setting up LNG bunkering infrastructure (storage and bunker vessels) at various strategic locations around the world, and facilitating the sale of LNG as a marine fuel to end customers around the world.Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi…

International mining company BHP BHP floated a bulk carrier tender for LNG-fueled transport for up to 27 million tonnes of its iron ore.The Melbourne-based resource company said in a release that this is the world’s first bulk carrier tender for LNG-fueled  iron ore vessel.The mining giant is considering LNG as a way to eliminate nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide emissions by launching the world’s first tender for the ships.Rashpal Bhatti, Vice President, Maritime and Supply Chain Excellence said emissions resulting from the transportation and distribution of BHP’s products represent a material source of its value chain emissions (Scope 3).“We recognize we have a stewardship role…

Saudi Aramco and Total hasve signed a joint venture agreement to develop a network of fuel and retail services in Saudi Arabia.The 50:50 JV plans to invest around $1 billion over the next six years in the Saudi fuel retail market and start providing motorists with premium fuels and retail services in the Guf kingdom.“This is a major milestone which will help establish a quality retail fuel network in the Kingdom. We look forward to working together with our long-term partner Total and draw on their extensive experience in the retail fuel market,” said Abdulaziz Al-Judaimi, Saudi Aramco’s Senior Vice President of Downstream and Chairman of the JV Board.He added: “With this new business…

Demand to ship gasoline on Colonial Pipeline has sunk to a two-month low as Gulf Coast supplies are increasingly being exported or sent to the Midwest rather than to the New York harbor, three sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Colonial Pipeline Co, the largest U.S. fuel network, has consistently allocated space for at least the past two months, meaning demand has exceeded capacity on the pipeline. But it would not ration space on its main gasoline line for the next five-day shipping cycle, known as "Cycle 2," the sources said, which suggests lower demand. Colonial spokeswoman Malesia Dunn said the company does not speculate on rumors. The sources could not speak for attribution because the information is not public.

U.S. drivers are starting to feel the effects of Tropical Storm Harvey in their wallets as the country's fuel distribution network starting at the Gulf Coast and stretching across the country is squeezed by floods, refinery closures and dwindling supplies. At least 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) of refining capacity is offline and more refineries are at risk of shut downs as the storm relentlessly dumps rain on Texas and heads toward Louisiana. The longer refineries remain shut, the more retail prices will increase, traders and analysts said. Two of the major pipelines delivering gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from the Gulf Coast are operating at reduced rates or plan to shut entirely, with wholesale markets in Chicago and the Gulf region seeing sharply higher prices.

LNG America announced it has entered an agreement with Buffalo Marine Service, Inc. (Buffalo Marine) to cooperate on the design of an LNG bunker fuel network for the U. S. Gulf Coast region. LNG America is developing a hub-and-spoke delivery system for LNG as fuel for the marine market and other high horsepower applications. Ultimately, LNG America will establish delivery infrastructure for the delivery of LNG as fuel in major U.S. ports. Bunkering company Buffalo Marine presently has more than 50 vessels dedicated to bunkering in the Gulf of Mexico region.