Guangzhou Accelerates the Pilot Work of Promoting the Application of Biofuel Oil for International Ships

(Ocean Network/dayoo news (Google Translation)) The reporter learned from the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce that in order to promote the national biodiesel promotion and application pilot and expand domestic biodiesel application scenarios, Guangzhou recently issued the pilot work plan and management rules for the promotion and application of biofuel oil for international ships, taking a solid step in building a pilot work mechanism and promoting the implementation of the project.

It is reported that the pilot work plan clarifies the main tasks, implementation process, and safeguard measures of the pilot work, and clarifies the contents of the pilot work, such as researching and formulating biofuel oil standards, building biofuel oil storage and transportation bases, promoting the development of the biodiesel industry, and striving for policy breakthroughs; the management rules clarify the basis, scope, and management responsibilities of relevant units for the pilot work management, as well as the full-process supervision requirements for the collection and transportation of waste cooking oil, processing, blending of biodiesel and fuel oil, and filling of bonded biofuel oil. The formulation and implementation of the work plan and management rules will help improve the mechanism, form a joint force, promote the implementation of the project, and ensure the standardized operation of the pilot work.

As the global shipping industry accelerates its green and low-carbon transformation, international ships urgently need to refuel with economical and applicable green energy to meet emission reduction requirements. Biofuel oil (mixed from traditional low-sulfur fuel oil and biodiesel that meets sustainable development standards) has the advantages of low carbon emissions, easy access to resources, no need to update storage and transportation facilities and ship equipment, and simple and safe operation. It is one of the most economical and convenient options for the shipping industry at this stage.

In recent years, the demand for biofuel oil in South China has increased year by year. In September 2023, Guangzhou took the lead in implementing the first domestic bonded low-sulfur biofuel oil bunkering business, and explored related technical operations and regulatory models. However, due to the constraints of current policy regulations, the biofuel oil bunkered in South China is mainly exported to Hong Kong through marine fuel oil and biodiesel, mixed into biofuel oil, and then imported under bonded conditions, resulting in an increase in the cost of biofuel oil bunkering.

In this context, in order to give full play to the resource endowment of Guangzhou, enhance the port service capacity, and build an organic waste recycling system, in November 2023, according to the notice of the National Energy Administration, Guangzhou organized enterprises to actively apply for the pilot promotion and application of bonded marine biofuel oil, and was approved to carry out the national biodiesel promotion and application pilot at the end of April 2024 (a total of 22 pilot projects nationwide). Since the approval of the pilot, Guangzhou has included the pilot promotion and application of biodiesel in key tasks, clarified the working mechanism of multi-departmental and local government coordination, actively sought guidance and policy support from relevant national ministries and commissions, guided pilot enterprises to conduct a survey of biodiesel resources in Guangzhou and surrounding areas, conducted mixing experiments of biodiesel and low-sulfur fuel oil in different proportions, carried out research on the application standards of marine biofuel oil and carbon emission factor calibration, and made solid preparations for project facilities, resources, technology, mechanisms, etc. The group standard "Marine Biofuel Oil" (standard number T/CIQA 88-2024), drafted by 10 units including Sinopec CNOOC Fuel Supply, a pilot enterprise, was reviewed and approved by relevant member units of the China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Association and issued and implemented in August 2024. In June 2024, Guangzhou implemented the country's first high-sulfur biofuel oil refueling of international ships, filling the gap in the category of marine fuel oil refueling in my country.

The group standard "Marine Biofuel Oil" drafted by pilot enterprises was released

It is reported that in 2024, Guangzhou will accelerate the construction of a bonded fuel refueling center for international ships, organize the revision of the "Guangzhou International Ship Bonded Fueling Management Measures", relax access conditions, streamline the declaration process, and improve the bonded refueling management system; the high- and low-sulfur bonded ship fuel blending and blending pilot policy that was actively sought was successfully approved, and the first bonded high- and low-sulfur fuel oil blending and blending business in South China was quickly implemented; support enterprises to apply for bonded fuel oil delivery warehouse qualifications, implement special support policies for bonded fuel refueling business, and improve the full-chain service mechanism for bonded oil and gas refueling. According to statistics, the bonded oil refueling volume of international ships in Guangzhou in 2024 was 1.055 million tons, exceeding 1 million tons for the first time.

Recently, the General Office of the State Council issued the "Opinions on Promoting the High-quality Development of Finished Oil Circulation". The "Opinions" proposed to promote the upgrading of finished oil quality and the development of clean alternative energy, study and formulate the circulation management policy of green and clean fuels such as biodiesel that the country encourages and has issued national mandatory standards, and help build a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient modern energy system. In the next step, Guangzhou will implement the relevant requirements of the state on promoting the application and circulation of green and clean fuels and the deployment of pilot projects for the promotion and application of biodiesel, actively strive for policy innovation, explore the "Guangzhou model" of pilot projects for the blending and blending of biodiesel and fuel oil for the purpose of ship supply, ensure the implementation of pilot projects for the promotion and application of biodiesel, and actively explore the construction of clean fuel supply chains such as methanol and green ammonia, improve refueling facilities and supporting industries, so as to meet the green and clean energy refueling needs of international ships and enhance the level of international shipping hubs. READ MORE