Australian tallow-based biodiesel was blended in Singapore for the first time and used onboard a bulk carrier, as part of Australian mining group BHP's pilot program aimed at reducing maritime emissions.
Mining giant BHP trialled the fuel in May, using a 100pc biodiesel blend comprising 50pc Australian-origin tallow methyl ester (TME) and 50pc used cooking oil methyl ester (Ucome), the firm said on 3 June.
The blend is expected to deliver around a 79pc reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per voyage compared with conventional very low-sulphur fuel oil.
The biodiesel was used onboard the Berge Lyngor, an iron ore carrier that departed Port Hedland, Western Australia, for China on 17 May and partially discharged its cargo on 31 May, according to Kpler data.
Around 500t of TME was sourced from producer Just Biodiesel's 60mn litre/yr plant on the New South Wales–Victoria border and exported to Singapore's bunkering hub in approximately 25 isotanks by biofuel supplier HAMR Energy, Just Biodiesel told Argus today.
Japanese trading firm Mitsui's Singapore energy trading arm supplied the Ucome component and carried out blending. The project was co-funded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore under the Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund.
