PRIO launches new biofuel blend after successful trials

Portuguese biofuel producer PRIO has launched a B30 biofuel blend following successful trials on US-based Norwegian Cruise Line’s vessels.

PHOTO: PRIO tank park in the port of Aveiro. PRIO

The B30 biofuel blend combines 30% biofuel derived from residual waste materials and 70% ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD). The fuel is produced at PRIO’s biodiesel plant and blended at its tank terminal in Aveiro, Portugal.

The trials were carried out on Norwegian Cruise Line’s cruise ships Norwegian Star and Norwegian Epic. These ships were bunkered with 200 mt of B30 biofuel blend each on 27 November and 7 December, respectively, in Lisbon. US-based energy company World Fuel Services assisted in the trial process.

PRIO claims that the biofuel blend helped reduce CO2 emissions by around 30%.

Before the B30 biofuel blend, the company had launched B15 with 15% biodiesel and B20 with a 20% biofuel blend.

“We are going through a crucial moment in the world’s response to climate and biodiversity emergencies, so PRIO believes that we can already accelerate the energy transition if we increase the contribution of advanced biofuels in the maritime sector,” said PRIO’s executive committee member Luis Nunes.

Currently, PRIO supplies its biofuel blends to all Portuguese ports and intends to expand operations to other European ports in the coming days.

By Tuhin Roy

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