Idemitsu Kosan becomes 1st Japanese oil refiner to supply biodiesel-blended fuel to ocean-going vessels

Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd. has partnered with Kanematsu Corp. to become the first domestic oil refiner in Japan to supply biodiesel-blended fuel—a mixture of heavy fuel oil and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) made from used cooking oil—to ocean-going vessels.

This initiative utilizes the marine shipping facilities of Kanematsu Oil Tanker Co. Ltd. to establish a supply system for the biodiesel-blended fuel.

The company has begun supplying to shipping companies such as Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) and aims to supply a total of 5,000 tons of the marine biofuel, including for domestic vessels, by March 2026.

This is equivalent to the amount of fuel used by a large vessel with a deadweight of 300,000 tons operating for 50 days and will contribute to the decarbonization of the shipping industry.

In the shipping industry, the transition to fuels with lower greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions is progressing rapidly, driven in part by the International Maritime Organization’s setting of GHG-reduction targets.

In response to the decarbonization efforts in the shipping industry, Idemitsu conducted operational trials of a biodiesel-blended fuel, which is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 20 percent compared to conventional marine fuels, on domestic vessels in Hokkaido from 2023 to 2024. 

While cold regions like Hokkaido present challenges such as fuel solidification at low temperatures, Idemitsu said it confirmed that stable operation is possible using the biodiesel-blended fuel under the same equipment and operating conditions as with conventional marine fuels.

As the next step, Idemitsu said it will begin supplying biodiesel-blended fuel to domestic and international vessels, utilizing the marine shipping facilities at Kanematsu Oil Terminal’s Ogura Oil Terminal in Kitakyushu City, Japan.

Idemitsu and Kanematsu have obtained certification from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification System GmbH for the manufacturing and supply of this biodiesel-blended fuel.

This allows them to supply the marine biofuel based on this certification by using FAME that meets the ISCC certification standards.

“Going forward, we will consider transitioning to a supply system that can accommodate increased supply volumes, taking into account the demand trends for biodiesel-blended fuel and utilizing our marine-shipping facilities,” Idemitsu stated. “Furthermore, in addition to biodiesel-blended fuel, we aim to establish a domestic supply system for eMethanol, a fuel produced using CO2 as a raw material. Through the supply of both fuels, we will contribute to the decarbonization of the shipping industry.”