Russia’s Environment Minister calls for HFO reduction

Russia’s Natural Resources Minister Sergei Donskoi suggested that there is a need for reduction of heavy fuel oil (HFO) use in the Arctic, informing that the government is discussing this possibility on various platforms that are concerned with the Arctic.

Specifically, speaking at Russian news agency, he informed that the Arctic Council has launched a green shipping project, to build LNG-fueled vessels and that nuclear-powered icebreakers are being constructed to decrease the use of HFO.

“We believe that we should start by increasing the number of LNG fueled vessels and then see what else we can do,” the minister stated.

As it was previously reported, at MEPC 71, Canada submitted a proposal on measures to reduce risks of use and carriage of HFO as fuel by ships in Arctic waters. The proposal has been supported by Russia, the United States, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and several non-Arctic countries. Specific proposals to reduce the risks of HFO will be considered by MEPC 72 in April 2018.

In addition, WWF Russia has supported the idea of using LNG as ship fuel to reduce the risk of polluting the Arctic with HFO.