Australian miner BHP on Wednesday said it is collaborating with the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation on a pilot to examine how biofuels from several feedstocks can be blended and used in real-world operating conditions through the use of existing used cooking oil bunkering infrastructure.
As part of the project, biofuels from two different feedstocks, used cooking oil and waste animal fat, were blended and introduced into the bulk carrier Berge Lyngor, chartered by BHP.
The pilot is expected to help identify solutions to challenges pertaining to fuel quality, handling, traceability, and onboard vessel performance, the BHP statement said.
"The outcomes of the pilot are expected to shed light on the practical steps to integrate biofuel blends from different feedstocks into existing supply chains. The diversity of biofuels will provide shipowners and operators with greater flexibility to optimise fuel procurement based on cost, availability, and lifecycle emissions performance," the statement said.
Berge Lyngor, owned and operated by Berge Bulk, has been chartered by BHP to transport iron ore from Western Australia to China. The carrier has the potential to cut down well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions by almost 79% per voyage when run on bio-blend, when compared to its voyages using very low sulphur fuel oil, the statement said.
In early May, the vessel refueled in Singapore with a B100 bio-blend consisting of tallow-derived biodiesel, provided by HAMR Energy, and used cooking oil, supplied by Mitsui & Co Energy Trading Singapore, in equal quantities. Mitsui was also part of the blending process
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore is co-funding the project through the Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund, the statement added.