GS Caltex’s tedious efforts have paid off through private-public sector cooperation: persuading the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to allow general refueling ships to carry “B30 bio ship oil,” carrying 30 percent biofuels, which is considered a significant step to expanding the global carbon reduction maritime fuel supply market.
At the 83rd Marine Environmental Protection Commission (MEPC) Meeting, which took place from April 7 to 11, the IMO approved the revision of regulations to allow general refueling ships to transport B30 ship oil.
Prior to the IMO’s revision of related regulations, GS Caltex submitted to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) a proposal to raise the permissible level for conventional bunker carriers carrying biofuel blends from currently B25 to B30.
GS Caltex participated in international meetings under the umbrella of the IMO as an adviser of a Korean government delegation and played a leading role in vouching for the safety of B30 bio ship oil based on their scientific analysis.
As the IMPO had so far classified B25 bio blends as chemical, general refueling ships were restricted in their ability to transport B30 bio ship oil, effectively preventing growth for the low carbon shipping fuel market.
A view of the 83rd Marine Environmental Protection Commission (MEPC) Meeting, which took place from April 7 to 11 at the IMO headquarters in London. (Photo on the courtesy of the IMO’s official website)
Through consultations with the MOF and Korea Register, GS Caltex initially submitted a proposal to allow general transportation ships to transport B30 biofuel blends at the 81st MEPC Meeting in 2024, but it ended up with no agreement.
GS Caltex never gave up and instead the company formed three taskforce teams — Policy One Team, Biofuel Trading Team and London branch team GSPL, and continued close cooperation with the MOF and KR.
In particular, GS Caltex participated in the 30th Meeting of the Working Group on the Evaluation of Safety and Pollution Hazards of Chemicals (ESPH) under the umbrella of the IMO in London in October 2024.
They occurred as part of a Korean government delegation from the MOF and KR, who conducted consultative services and activities to gain member countries’ support.
In the course, Lim Chan-soo with GS Caltex’s Policy One Team submitted scientific analysis data explaining how the transportation, health and environmental harmfulness of B30 biofuel blends are lower than that of the convention fossil fuels; and the data was reflected in the government’s proposal to the IMO, which was used as an important basis for changing the related regulations.
During the meeting, the Korean delegation succeeded in changing to a positive one the situation in which UK, Japanese and Norwegian delegations put up opposition, citing the significance of the existing regulations by securing support from Spain, the EU chair country, and finally obtaining support from a majority of about 30 countries by persuading major countries with influence in the bio ship fuel sector, such as Brazil, Singapore and China.
The proposal passed in technological review at the 12th meeting of the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 12), which took place at IMO headquarters in Lon from Jan. 27 to Jan, 31, 2025.
It was approved at the 83rd MEPC Meeting that took place in April 2025. IMO guidelines, immediately taking effect, were issued.
The updated guidelines have been evaluated to be a representative example of private-public sector cooperation between in-house departments of GS Caltex, close international negotiations in cooperation with the MOF and KR and scientific studies.
A GS Caltex official said, “The achievement takes on great meaning as a Korean company has played a leading role in contributing to a structural change in spearheading the global energy transition and carbon neutrality.
We have to move beyond simple policy changes, and as the feat is impossible without the MOF’s full support and KR’s expertise and dedication, GS Caltex will lead the sustainable energy market through close cooperation with the government, industry and overseas network.”
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