BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec. 28
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:
Iranian ships need 1.5 million tons of low-sulfur fuel oil (0.5 percent) a year, Secretary General of the Iranian Shipowners' Association Yahya Ziaei Mehrjerdi said.
Mehrjerdi made the remark at the press conference in Iran, Trend reports referring to Fars News Agency.
“In accordance with the International Maritime Organization’s Convention, all ships must use low-sulfur fuel oil from early January 2020,” the secretary general added.
Mehrjerdi said that despite the decision was made to produce 45,000 tons of fuel oil per month at Iran's Shazand Imam Khomeini refinery, 1,500 tons have been supplied so far.
The secretary general added that presently, 3.5-percent-sulfur fuel oil costs $300 while 0.5-percent- sulfur fuel in the world market - $750.
"Iran's Shazand, Abadan and Isfahan refineries may produce low-sulfur fuel oil,” Mehrjerdi said. “However, these refineries are now interested in producing gasoline complying with Euro 4 standard.”
"The rise in fuel prices will have a negative impact on the import of essential goods, including rice, corn, oil seeds, meat and others," the secretary general said.
“Presently, 95 ships with a capacity of 200,000-500,000 tons of the National Iranian Tanker Company, 130 ships of the Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL Group) and more than 40 ships of the private companies operate,” Mehrjerdi said.