Sinopec Expands LSFO Production

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec ), China's first large-scale production of greener low-sulfur marine fuel oil (LSFO), announced the production capability of 10 million and 15 million tons of low-sulfur marine fuel oil in 2020 and 2023.

The Beijing-based Chinese oil and gas enterprise said in a press release that by January 1, 2020, Zhoushan and other China major ports will be fully covered with Sinopec product availability, and more than 50 key overseas ports, including Singapore, will be covered with Sinopec supply ability.

The commitment will contribute 600,000 tons of sulfur oxide emissions reduction, equivalent to shutting down over 64 million National IV Standard trucks for a year.

Shipping emissions have become one of the major sources of air pollution in port cities and coastal areas. Data shows while a 10,000 TEU container vessel sails with a 70% load for 24 hours, it produces the equivalent amount of PM2.5 against 210,000 National IV Standard trucks.

Sinopec actively promotes greener development in the global shipping industry and contributes to the "China Solution". Sinopec has launched a project in production research and development of the greener low-sulfur marine fuel oil in 2017.

In the aspect of production, 10 Sinopec refineries located in coastal cities have been projected to produce low-sulfur marine fuel oil. Shanghai, Jinling and Hainan, locations of some of the 10 refineries, have successively produced the IMO compliant marine fuel earlier this year.

In the aspect of supply network development, the supply chain of Sinopec's own refined low-sulfur marine fuel oil has already been established in Shanghai and Zhejiang.

Prior to January 1, 2020, China's major ports will be covered with Sinopec's features such as regulatory compliance, sustainable availability, and environmental concern. Simultaneously, the supply chain will reach Singapore, Hambantota, ARA areas and up to 50 key overseas ports around the globe.

Sinopec has the responsibility, the capability and the advantages to scale up the production and supply of low-sulfur marine fuel oil. "Reduction of shipping emissions is one of the key factors in the Blue Sky Protection Campaign," said Mr.Lv Dapeng, the spokesman of Sinopec. "The production and supply of low-sulfur marine fuel oil is a green initiative that benefits the whole world and requires concerted global action."

Being the largest oil refining company, Sinopec has advanced refining technology along with the advantage of having main refineries close to the consumption market along the coast and the river. Therefore, Sinopec has the ability and advantages in the realization of the large-scale production of low-sulfur marine fuel oil and is committed to the prevention and reduction of marine and air pollution in China and the world.