Ecopetrol dispatched 185,000 barrels of new marine fuel derived from residual oil—produced at its Barrancabermeja and Cartagena refineries—for unloading in Cape Canaveral, USA, El Espectador reported.

Ecopetrol has exported its inaugural shipment of IFO RMG 380—a bunker-grade marine fuel— totalling 185,000 barrels, marking its entry into a global niche dominated by Saudi Arabia, Russia, US and China. The cargo, destined for operations aboard large vessels, was produced through enhanced refining processes and unloaded in Cape Canaveral, Florida, before onward distribution.

The development is the product of R&D led by the national Institute of Petroleum and Energies for the Transition alongside Ecopetrol’s Barrancabermeja and Cartagena facilities, which sought to maximise residual fuel utilisation and improve margins through value‑added derivatives.

The marine fuel meets more stringent standards on viscosity and metallic impurities—attributes essential for bunkering markets—and positions Ecopetrol as a credible regional competitor with total output expected to reach 800,000 barrels per month by year-end to satisfy both international and domestic demand.

On the environmental front, the process reduces carbon intensity by diverting high‑sulphur streams into industrial feedstocks, such as tyre manufacturing—a scope‑3 emissions mitigation strategy.

For Colombia, the export signifies a notable diversification from traditional fuel blends, supporting national industrial aims and lowering import dependency on marine fuels. Investors see the move as reinforcing Ecopetrol’s shift towards refined-energy profitability, especially in an era when the company is allocating $5.8bn in investments this year, including projects like its SAF facility in Barrancabermeja with projected output of 6,000 bpd by 2030.

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