32 000 Tons of Fuel to Avoid Shortages

On board are 32 000 tons of White Oil, of super unleaded petrol, diesel and 500 Jet A-1. Unloading began immediately.

Steps have been taken to fill the tanks of the oil companies to secure supply to meet increased demand in this early season. And also to avoid the risk of an out of stock in anticipation of bad weather may delay shipping during this hurricane. Thus STC wanted a contingency and does not want there to be out of stock of petroleum products at the end of the year.

By the 27th instant, another tanker, the Bering Sea, is expected in the country on board a cargo of 32,000 tonnes of fuel oil (Black Oil and Fuel Oil 180 and 380) for the CEB and industries. This cargo is important since in this time of year, the Central Electricity Board (CEB) needs a greater amount of heavy oil as demand for electricity is much higher than previous months.

Normally the State Trading Corporation (STC) operates a charter contract with the company's Betamax and the Red Eagle tanker carrying petroleum products in all directions for the country. The tanker can carry only 60 000 tons of petroleum products at once, made us understand the STC.

To bring the Red Eagle with a cargo of 60,000 tons of a sudden, we need a draft of at least 13 meters at the New Oil Jetty which limits the volume transported on each trip. A journey, which includes the time taken to load the oil in Mangalore, cover the distance to Port-Louis and unload the fuel at the finish, takes 22 days in ideal conditions. Or 13 days for the round trip, four days for loading and unloading for five.

The STC imports this year some 1.25 million tons of petroleum products. This amount has increased compared to previous years and will increase further in 2012. The products that the country consumes are: gasoline, diesel 500 ppm sulfur mainly for public transport, the 2500 ppm sulfur diesel for the purposes of bunkering vessels have refueled at Port Louis and the industry, and Jet A-1 fuel for all aircraft which resupply in Plaisance.

In one year, Red Eagle can carry from 15 to 16 trips and can carry only one million tonnes of petroleum products, some 250 000 to 300 000 tonnes less the annual needs of STC. Because of this STC already in its schedule of other oil cargo to support the Red Eagle.

These tankers are expected to transport gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Another boat, carrying the black oil separately taking into account the limited storage capacity for each product. Between the two additional trips to the Alpine Eternity and the Bering Sea, the Red Eagle came home on December 19 with a cargo of seven types of products.

Megh Pillay, CEO of STC, told the Morning of the services Additional oil is retained initially by the charterer, but they are accepted by the STC if they meet all the requirements of quality control and safety imposed by oil companies to products that are intended by supplier refiner that receives its port and the port authorities of the countries concerned as well, "There is absolutely no room for compromise or accommodation in this area hypersensitive where the rigor is required at all levels" , he added.