Agribusiness & Food, Logistics, Ports & Terminals

CBH helps conduct Australian-first biofuel trial

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The CBH Group has partnered with dry bulk operator, Oldendorff Carriers, to conduct the biofuel trial on a grain vessel exporting from Australia.

CBH Marketing and Trading shipped 30,000 tonnes of sustainably certified malting barley to Vietnam, aboard the Edwine Oldendorff.

The vessel will be bunkered with a biofuel blend for the trial, supplied by integrated energy company BP. The biofuel blend is estimated to produce about 15 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions for this journey than conventional fossil fuels.

CBH Chief Marketing and Trading Officer Jason Craig said the co-operative was proud to be pioneering efforts, alongside two of its global partners, to explore ways to reduce its carbon footprint along the supply chain.

“Customers across the world are increasingly seeking to source sustainable products, including sustainable grain,” Craig said.

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“It is our role, as Australia’s leading grain exporter, to take the necessary steps to lower carbon emissions along our supply chain.

“Biofuel is one low-carbon option that could be part of the solution to reducing emissions in the shipping industry.”

The malting barley, which is accredited as sustainable under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification program, is set for Vietnam’s leading malting company, Intermalt.

Intermalt services several brewing customers, the largest being Heineken, which has set a target of a carbon neutral value chain by 2040.

“We need to meet the growing market demand for sustainable or carbon reduced grain by being proactive, practical and adapting,” Craig said.

“By doing this, we are making sure we can continue to keep our WA growers competitive.”

The trial aims to provide information on how the vessel engine responds to biofuel, its speed and efficiency, and measure the emissions it produces.

“We are excited to be working alongside our key global partners to conduct this trial, which will provide valuable information and help pave the way for a more sustainable grain industry,” Craig said.

Managing Director at Oldendorff Carriers Melbourne, Ben Harper, said the company is very pleased to be collaborating with CBH to trial biofuel in its vessel, Edwine Oldendorff.

“Collaboration is crucial for us all to learn and share information about the best paths in our efforts to decarbonise the supply chain,” Harper said.

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