Wellington to get its own biofuel supplier

bp Marine’s new Wellington offering covers the supply of marine fuels by barge, including the region’s first bio-very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO).

”This is the first of its kind for the Port of Wellington,’ said Eddie Gauci, global head of bp Marine.

”bp is making a major investment across our Wellington Terminal network, in preparation for the introduction of marine biofuel blends. Biofuels have a vital role in decarbonising transport, including in the marine sector.”

Energy transition

”We are thrilled to be working with StraitNZ because they want to play their part in helping the world get to net zero by decarbonising their fleet, and with the marine biofuel blend bp will be supplying, we can help them do that,” he continued.

StraitNZ’s network includes Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries that connects the north and south islands between Wellington and Picton with 50 freight and passenger voyages a week.

The fuel will include a 24% Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester (UCOME) biofuel blended with VLSFO. The UCOME component is certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification System (ISCC), an internationally recognised certification scheme for biobased materials.

Announcing the supply agreement, bp noted that bioenergy is one its ‘five transition growth engines.’ The company is aiming to produce around 100,000 barrels of biofuels per day globally by 2030.