01AUG2019 - NEWS - Turkey's Petrol Ofisi nears IMO-compliant fuel supply

Turkey's largest bunker fuel supplier Petrol Ofisi said it is nearly ready to supply fuel oil compliant with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations that take effect in 2020. The company, a subsidiary of trading firm Vitol, has added a new 2,500t barge to its fleet for IMO-compliant 0.5pc sulphur fuel oil supply and has completed 90pc of preparations for 2020, its head of marine sales Celal Ersan said. Petrol Ofisi will supply 0.5pc fuel oil in Istanbul in 2020, Ersan told Argus. Turkey's bunker suppliers will rely on imports for supply in 2020, as local refiners Tupras and Azerbaijan state-controlled Socar will not produce IMO-compliant fuels next year. Marine gasoil (MGO) will become the main marine fuel in Turkey's ports in 2020, according to market participants.