Marine fuels company Alkagesta is investigating the potential to broaden its Ultra Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (ULSFO) supply presence into Spain, according to reports from Ship & Bunker. This consideration follows the introduction of a new emission control area (ECA) in the Mediterranean earlier this year.
The firm is reportedly considering obtaining a local trader licence in Spain. This licence would enable Alkagesta to supply ULSFO within the country. Additionally, the company is looking into the possibility of commencing sales of B24 biofuel blends in the Spanish market.
Alkagesta has already supplied a significant volume of ULSFO in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean. Ship & Bunker noted that the company has sold 500,000 metric tonnes of ULSFO in this region since the ECA's implementation in May.
The company highlighted Spain's strategic importance in the transition to lower-emission marine operations. Alkagesta stated that Spain serves as a major bunkering hub and a crucial gateway for European Union trade, particularly for container shipping vessels.
Spain's extensive port infrastructure, including facilities in Barcelona, Valencia, Algeciras, Tarragona, and Bilbao, is central to the distribution of transition fuels. These ports are facilitating the regional shift towards low-emission marine operations, according to Alkagesta.
Spanish ports, such as Algeciras, Valencia, and Barcelona, have reportedly upgraded their bunkering facilities to accommodate compliant fuels. This includes the provision of ULSFO and biofuels, ensuring a consistent supply of low-emission options to meet new sulphur limits.
The firm's statement, as reported by Ship & Bunker, indicates that these developments are crucial for meeting the new sulphur limits imposed by the Mediterranean ECA.
