Hambantota Port records significant 1H gain in LPG, bunker volumes 

HIP supplying a direct bunker to McDermott Derrick Barge No.50 at HIP Oil Jetty 

LPG unloading operation at HIP Oil Jetty

• Overall LPG throughput at the end of June 2024 reaches 149,980 metric tons
• Bunker volumes reached 66,044 metric tons within the first five months of 2024

Hambantota International Port (HIP) reported a strong performance in the first half of the year (1H24) with significant growth in LPG operations and bunker volumes, highlighting its expanding capabilities.

HIP’s LPG operations and bunker volumes expanded by about 100 percent and 128 percent Year-on-Year (YoY) when compared with the corresponding period in 2023.

Accordingly, HIP has expanded its services to accommodate diverse oil and gas operations, including LPG vessel gas-ups and direct bunker supplies, demonstrating the port’s capacity to handle a variety of energy-related operations.

In the first six months of 2024, HIP saw the overall LPG throughput reach 149,980 metric tons, compared to 78,724 metric tons last year. 

Meanwhile, bunker volumes reached 66,044 metric tons within the first five months of the year, compared to 28,923 metric tons handled during the same period last year. 

This growth encompasses bunker supplies within the port, at anchorage, and in outside port limit (OPL) areas, highlighting HIP’s strategic and technological advantages, coupled with growing capability and efficiency in handling complex maritime services.

According to HIP Group Energy Services Department General Manager Li Yongzhuang, the increase is driven by robust demand from both imports and transshipment sectors, which underscores the port’s strategic importance in the regional energy landscape.

“Year 2024 is one of significant years of achievements for our energy services, and we are strongly reinforcing the port’s position as a strategic energy hub in the regional and global maritime landscape, under the China Merchants Group (CMG) and Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA),” said Yongzhuang.

According to Chief Representative of China Merchants Group (CMG) in Sri Lanka and CEO of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) Johnson Liu, efforts are underway to actively promote the energy sector as a growth market for HIP. The figures are likely to continue rising. 

“We are confident of meeting our target annual oil and gas volumes by the end of this year.

“Through strong partnerships with local and international stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, we are transforming the dynamics of the oil and gas space in the Indian Ocean while adhering to the highest levels of health, safety, and efficiency,” said Liu. The port recently completed several LPG gas-ups and direct bunker supply activities, including a direct supply to the McDermott Derrick Barge No. 50 at the HIP Oil Jetty. Looking ahead, the port is ready to begin Liquid Bulk Ship-to-Ship Operations (STS), further affirming its status as an ‘Energy Hub’ in the region.

The expansion of operational capabilities at HIP, facilitating a diverse range of maritime activities beyond traditional loading and unloading, is a strategic enhancement crucial for the maritime industry. This consolidation of essential operations within a single port streamlines processes for global shipping companies, solidifying HIP’s strategic importance.