SIBCON 2024 Highlights Singapore’s Push for Digital Bunkering

The world’s largest bunkering event, SIBCON, is currently taking place in Singapore, the global leader in bunkering operations. Delegates at this year’s event are getting a glimpse of how the industry is preparing to embrace digital transformation.

Dr. Amy Khor, Singapore's Senior Minister of Transport, announced that Singapore will be the first port in the world to roll out digital bunkering on a large scale for all operations. From April 1, 2025, all bunker suppliers in Singapore will be required to offer digital bunkering services and issue electronic bunker delivery notes (e-BDNs) by default. This move follows pilot programs that began in November last year, involving Singapore’s top 10 bunker suppliers.

“The digital bunkering process allows for efficient data sharing between bunker buyers and suppliers, which will help expedite administrative processes, improve accountability, ensure compliance with regulations, reduce the potential for errors, and support early detection of fraudulent activities,” the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) stated in a press release.

Singapore has long been at the forefront of technological innovation in bunkering, having implemented mass flow meters (MFMs) before many of its competitors. For example, European ports like Rotterdam are only now beginning to adopt this technology, which has been mandatory in Singapore for several years.

The city-state’s dominance in the bunkering world is unparalleled. According to 2023 data from Ship&Bunker, Singapore sold more bunker fuel than the next six largest bunkering ports combined, highlighting its significant global market share.