Vitol Bunkers has marked an important step forward in Pakistan’s maritime and energy sectors with the first direct bunker barge loading from the Karachi Port Trust Oil Pier and the delivery of the largest very low sulphur fuel oil stem to date in the country. On 17 November 2025, the Vitol-owned, Singapore-flagged bunker barge Marine Ista, with a deadweight tonnage of 8,722 metric tonnes, supplied VLSFO directly to a vessel owned and operated by MSC at DP World Port Qasim Authority. The operation eliminated the need for truck-based transfers, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and scale in Pakistan’s bunkering operations.
The fuel supplied formed part of Pakistan’s first large-scale production of IMO-compliant low sulphur fuel oil. It was produced at Cnergyico, the country’s largest refinery, using the first US crude oil delivered by Vitol to be refined locally. Under an ongoing collaboration, Cnergyico will continue to supply Vitol with VLSFO on a sustained basis, strengthening domestic refining capability and supporting the local availability of environmentally compliant marine fuels.
Ammar Hussaini of Vitol Bunkers commented that the initiative reflects the continued expansion of Vitol’s global bunkering network and provides customers with greater flexibility and energy supply options. He noted that Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Karachi Anchorage will now be served by Marine Ista, which is capable of delivering up to 6,800 metric tonnes of marine fuel in a single operation, enabling large vessels to undertake long east–west voyages. Aumar Abbassciy, director at Cnergyico Pakistan Limited, added that the partnership with Vitol continues to evolve and that this new business segment enhances Pakistan’s ability to support the global shipping industry with more sustainable fuel solutions.
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