Dominican Republic refinery exports first IMO 2020-compliant fuel

Refinería Dominicana de Petróleo PDV SA (Refidomsa) has exported its first shipment of low-sulfur fuel oil that complies with the International Marine Organization’s (IMO) new regulations requiring ships to use marine fuels with a sulfur content below 0.5% from its 34,000-b/d refinery at Haina, in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic.

Refidomsa exported two 50,000-bbl vessels of low-sulfur fuel oil bound for North America in late February to buyer Vitol Group, the operator said in a release.

With the first shipment now dispatched, the Dominican refinery anticipates exporting more than 100,000 bbl of the IMO 2020-compliant fuel oil monthly, said Félix Jiménez, president of Refidomsa’s board of directors.

Jiménez said the refinery’s production of the IMO 2020-compliant fuel oil results from a new crude oil research process developed by Refidomsa intended to raise product quality in conformance with international environmental protection standards.

The operator, however, did not reveal further details of the new process technology implemented at the refinery.

In a deal to pay off its oil debts to Venezuela, the Dominican Republic transferred 49% ownership interest in Refidomsa to state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela SA in late 2009 (OGJ Online, Nov. 3, 2009).