Petrobras halts Itaqui bunker pipeline supply for maintenance
The maintenance will affect Petrobras' VLSFO and MGO pipelines for up to 103 days, while bunkering by barge remains available at the port.
IMAGE: Ship-to-ship transfer between two tankers in the Port of Itaqui. Porto do Itaqui
Petrobras has announced a planned extended maintenance shutdown that will affect bunker fuel pipelines at the Port of Itaqui.
The operation will impact both the supply and receipt of bunker products across all berths, the Brazilian state-owned oil firm and bunker supplier said.
Maintenance on the VLSFO pipeline is scheduled to run from 18 August to 7 September, for approximately 20 days. The MGO pipeline is scheduled for maintenance from 29 July to 9 November, lasting roughly 103 days.
During these periods, sales of the affected products will be temporarily suspended.
A bunker trader in Brazil told ENGINE that there is at least one more supplier of VLSFO and LSMGO at Itaqui that delivers fuel by barge.
ENGINE bunker fuel quality from testing labs shows that Bunker One has delivered stems in the past three months.
"In Itaqui, Petrobras supplies fuel via pipeline, but this service is currently suspended. Bunkering by barge, however, should not be affected," the trader said.
The trader also identified Vila do Conde as the preferred alternative port for vessels seeking VLSFO and LSMGO instead of Itaqui during the suspension.
By Gautamee Hazarika
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