30OCT2019 - NEWS - Australia's Viva Energy launches new fuel for IMO2020

Australia's Viva Energy said on Wednesday it has launched a very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) to meet the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO's) new rules on fuel sulphur content for ships.

Viva, which operates a refinery in Geelong outside Melbourne, is the first of Australia's refiners to produce a low sulphur fuel oil.

Under the IMO2020 rules, the sulphur content of marine fuels must be limited to 0.5%, down from 3.5% as of Jan. 1.

The new VLSFO has been tested by a number of customers and is now available in Melbourne and Geelong, Viva said