LAHORE (Monitoring Desk):Pakistan’s maritime sector has reached a milestone with the launch of fast-expanding marine bunkering services at Karachi Port Trust (KPT), led by Vitol, the world’s largest independent energy trader. The service is set to supply 500,000 to 600,000 metric tons of marine fuel annually across Karachi Port, Port Qasim, and outer anchorage areas.
The initiative introduces international-standard bunker barges compliant with global maritime assurance requirements and establishes a transparent, structured bunker licensing regime. The service portfolio includes High Sulphur Fuel Oil (HSFO), Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO), and Low Sulphur Marine Gas Oil (LSMGO), providing visiting vessels with a full range of fuels.
A major operational advancement is direct barge loading from Keamari Oil Terminals, eliminating trucking requirements and enabling large-scale deliveries. The development is expected to enhance operational efficiency, reduce vessel turnaround times, and strengthen the competitiveness of Pakistan’s maritime trade.
Economic projections indicate that 40 to 50 percent of domestic refineries’ fuel oil output will now be channelled as bunker fuel, supporting industrial growth, energy security, and the emergence of seaports as hubs in the Blue Economy.
Looking ahead, Vitol plans to expand infrastructure to handle 70 to 100 bunker operations per month and deploy additional vessels for bio-bunker deliveries by the second quarter of 2026, aligning Pakistan with evolving environmental standards in the global shipping industry.
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