Monjasa to offer marine biofuels in Colombia

Maritime fuel trader and supplier Monjasa plans to offer 5,000-7000 metric tonnes/month of marine biofuels in Latin America, pending additional trial voyages and an increase in biofuels demand.

Monjasa plans to supply B20 and B30 blends of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) mixed with very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) out of Cartagena, Colombia. The B20 blend contains 20pc FAME and 80pc VLSFO. The B30 blend has 30pc FAME and 70pc VLSFO.

"It is the large container lines who are showing concrete interest and driving demand for biofuels in this market. Looking towards 2025, we expect that biofuels will become a broadly accepted option to comply with IMO's strategy on reducing CO2 emissions from maritime shipping," said Camilo Angulo Ferrand, trading manager at Monjasa.

Monjasa said it has completed biofuel trial voyages, but it declined it say how many and which companies participated in the tests.

Monjasa's supply volume in the Americas totaled 2.7 mn t last year, which is about 40pc of its total supply of at 6.4 mn t, the company said.

In July, the company received its International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) across its operations in Panama, the US, Denmark, Dubai and Singapore.

Monjasa completed its first B24 biodiesel bunker for a very large gas carrier (VLGC) near Dubai in late June, blended and delivered by its 9,600dwt tanker, Monjasa Shaker.

In Asia, Monjasa expanded its bunkering operations in Singapore, adding three tankers to offer conventional marine fuels and B24 biofuel by the end of 2023.

By Hannah Borai