Taiwan completes first biomass fuel bunkering for maritime vessels, promoting shipping energy transformation
Quick Look
- Taiwan has completed the country's first domestic biomass fuel refueling operation for maritime vessels at the Port of Kaohsiung.
- The refueling operation was carried out by Yang Ming Marine's marine vessels, marking the implementation of shipping energy transformation from policy planning to port operations.
- The port management company cooperated with China National Petroleum Corporation to launch B24 biofuel, which can reduce carbon emissions by at least 20% and has obtained international sustainability certification.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Ministry of Transport will establish the inter-ministerial "Marine Transportation Alternative Fuels Working Platform" in 2025 to integrate government and industry forces to promote the development of maritime alternative fuels. Today's operation symbolizes the implementation of policy planning into actual port operations.
The Mingming ship will be refueled with biomass fuel today, and Taiwan’s public and private parties will work together to advance the transformation of shipping energy. (Photo by reporter Li Huizhou)
In response to the trend of global shipping carbon reduction and energy transformation, the domestic shipping industry held the launch ceremony of the "Sustainable Green Energy, Net Zero Sailing" biofuel bunkering service at the Kaohsiung Port Container Center No. 6, witnessing the fueling of biofuel by Yang Ming Marine's paddle vessels. The port company stated that the completion of the country's first biomass fuel bunkering operation for maritime vessels has set an important milestone for Taiwan's ports to develop alternative fuel services for ships and integrate with international shipping energy transformation.
The Ministry of Transportation, the Port Bureau, the Port Management Company, China National Petroleum Corporation of Taiwan, as well as legislators Li Kunze, Lin Daihua, and shipping industry officials attended the ceremony. The Ministry of Transport established the inter-ministerial "Marine Transportation Alternative Fuels Working Platform" in 2025 to integrate government and industry forces and actively promote the development of maritime alternative fuels. Today symbolizes that my country's maritime energy transformation has been further implemented in port operations from policy planning.
Please read on...
Zhou Yonghui, chairman of the port company, said that Kaohsiung Port is the largest international commercial port in Taiwan. With the presence of many large shipping companies, intensive international routes, and the foundation of the Intercontinental Phase II petrochemical and energy industries, it has good conditions for the development of diversified ship fuel bunkering services. The bunkering service has chosen Kaohsiung Port as the starting point, and the biofuel bunkering service was officially launched today.
Fang Zhenren, chairman of CNPC, said that CNPC was the first to launch B24 biofuel in Kaohsiung Port, and will gradually promote it in Taichung and Keelung ports. He said that B24 biofuel can reduce carbon emissions by at least 20% compared with the original low-carbon fuel. Importantly, this fuel has also obtained the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC EU). CNPC will provide certification documents to bunkering carriers, and the carbon reduction effect of my country's shipping can be demonstrated in countries around the world.
The port company stated that in Kaohsiung Port, with the active response of major shipping companies, ships under Yang Ming Shipping, Wanhai Shipping and Sinosteel Express have successively refueled biomass fuel, and the refueling volume has reached 1,200 metric tons. Today, in addition to refueling biomass fuel, Yang Ming Mingming's ships also use shore power during berthing operations to reduce fuel usage and carbon emissions during berthing operations.
Taiwan's public-private collaboration has achieved significant results by promoting global shipping carbon reduction and energy transformation. (Photo by reporter Li Huizhou)
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
CNPC will gradually promote B24 biofuel bunkering services in Taichung Port and Keelung Port
Likely · Within months
More shipping companies will use biomass fuel for bunkering at Kaohsiung Port
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What is the promotion schedule for biofuels in other ports in Taiwan?
- What is the long-term supply stability and cost of B24 biofuel?
- Do other international shipping lines plan to use this type of fuel in Taiwanese ports?
