As the Mediterranean Sea Emission Control Area (ECA) came into effect at the start of this month, the Italian bunker market is expecting to see a significant uplift in sales of marine gasoil and biofuels to meet the 0.10% sulphur cap – and one of the country’s physical suppliers, jEnergy, has told Bunkerspot that it has already made arrangements to secure availabilities of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).
A member of the Jacorossi Family group of companies, jEnergy merged its bunkering operations with Bunker Energy at the start of this year.
The company makes physical bunker deliveries in both Augusta – where it charters three barges, the Punta Rossa, Punta Azzurra and Mersey Spirit – and Civitavecchia, where it uses the Big Duba. In addition, the company can arrange deliveries by truck in other ports across Italy.
jEnergy – and previously Bunker Energy – sources much of its bunker fuel from Italian refineries.
However, the combination of the MedECA implementation and the European Union’s FuelEU Maritime (FEUM) regulations are likely to see growing demand for distillates in general, and marine biofuels in particular. To meet this demand, sources at jEnergy have informed Bunkerspot that the company has now made a deal with a North European-based refiner to obtain supplies of its renewable diesel.
The company source said that jEnergy will begin by offering spot deliveries of up to 225 cubic metres (cbm) – with the potential to extend up to 570 cbm, depending on availability and demand. The deliveries will be made by barge in Augusta and Civitavecchia and, upon application, in other Italian ports by truck.
