Banle Energy completes Port Klang’s 1st B24 marine biofuel bunkering services in Malaysia

Photo: Banle Energy

Banle Energy International, a company specializing in marine-fuel logistics, announced July 15 that on June 28 and July 10 it successfully completed two B24 biofuel-bunkering services for Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp., one of the top 10 container-shipping companies in the world.

These were achieved in partnership with Green Marine Supply and Armada Meridian at Port Klang in Malaysia, marking it the port’s first biofuel-bunkering supply, representing an important step the group has taken in responding to the global call for the shipping industry's low-carbon transformation.

With the adoption of the 2023 International Maritime Organization’s strategy on the reduction of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions from ships and the FuelEU maritime regulation accelerating the decarbonization of ship fuels set to come into effect Jan. 1, 2025, Banle Energy said it has proactively seized the opportunity by obtaining certification from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification System GmbH’s EU scheme, which is a certification intended for biofuels and energy in the EU recognized by the European Commission for the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), as well as ISCC Plus certification, which is a certification intended for food, feed, biobased products, energy and biofuels outside Europe and/or outside scope of the RED II, as early as 2023.

Banle Energy said the early certifications position the company as one of the pioneering bunker facilitators in the green marine-fuel industry.

At the Bonn climate talks June 3, IMO outlined its latest progress and plans to decarbonize global shipping by 2050, including an ambitious target of achieving at least 5 percent of the energy used by international shipping from zero-emission fuels by 2030.

According to the Chinese Ship-source Oil Pollution Compensative Fund, this implies that the shipping industry, which consumes nearly 400 million tons of traditional fuels per year, will be required to reduce and replace traditional fuels by 20 million tons to 40 million tons by 2030, with emerging alternative fuels such as biofuels, LNG, LPG and methanol.

“Banle Energy’s successful completion of the B24 biofuel bunkering service demonstrates its dedication to this global goal,” the company stated.

As the shipping industry accelerates its efforts to meet decarbonization goals, there is a corresponding upward trend in both the utilization of green marine fuel and their market potential.

According to the internationally renowned market research company Exactitude Consultancy, the global green marine-fuel market is anticipated to grow from USD$11.57 billion in 2023 to USD$201.35 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate of 50.4% during the forecast period.

Recognizing this favorable opportunity, the group has strengthened its commitment to explore and expand the portfolio of alternative-fuel options available to customers.

Port Klang is the largest port in Malaysia and among the top 20 busiest ports globally, positioned in the top-producing state for the nation’s gross domestic product, highlighting its significant role in Malaysia’s economy.

The B24 biofuel is a blend of used cooking oil methyl ester (UCOME) and traditional marine fuel.

Compared to traditional marine fuel, the B24 biofuel blend is projected to reduce GHG emissions by approximately 20 percent.

This partnership between the local refinery and Banle Energy not only ensures a stable supply of biofuel in the region but also provides strong support for the company’s business expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.

“We are honored to facilitate Port Klang’s first inaugural B24 biofuel-bunkering services,” said Teck Lim Chia, chairman and CEO of Banle Energy. “This milestone not only marks a significant step in the group’s sustainable-development journey but also demonstrates our contribution to the global shipping industry’s low-carbon transition. Banle Energy will continue to expand its business scope and stay committed to meeting the diverse needs of shipowner customers, further solidifying our position as a leading ship-fuel supplier in the Asia-Pacific region.”