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Denmark-headquartered Dan-Bunkering has sought to clarify that its bunkering operation in the Colombian port of Cartagena will continue as normal despite the fact that its local partner, Petrocosta C.I. S.A., has entered into liquidation.

In a statement, the leading marine fuel specialist said: "Dan-Bunkering would like to clarify that it maintains operations in Cartagena under partnership with local supplier Petrocosta CI SA, notwithstanding the fact that Petrocosta CI SA has entered into liquidation process."

"There is, in other words, no change to dealings with Dan-Bunkering and it is business as usual," Dan-Bunkering added.

Petrocosta's current legal representative and liquidator manager, Luis Fernando Arboleda, said in a statement: "As publicly known, the Superintendancy of Corporations of Colombia ordered the liquidation of Petrocosta C.I. S.A. Nothwithstanding this situation, we would like to inform that Petrocosta will continue with its normal operations, in alliance with Dan-Bunkering (America) Inc, to guarantee the continuity of the services rendered to its clients in Colombia and abroad, with the aim of preventing affectations by the judicial process that is currently carried out under the tutelage of the person designated by the Superintendancy of Corporations of Colombia."

Dan-Bunkering entered into a supply partnership with Petrocosta in the port of Cartagena in May 2016. The partnership, which Dan-Bunkering said at the time would "develop and strengthen Dan-Bunkering's physical presence in Latin America", was in addition to the one it already had with Australian Bunkers in the Pacific Coast port of Buenaventura.

Dan-Bunkering handles sales and provides risk management services in its tie-up with Petrocosta in Cartagena, while the Colombian firm deals with the sourcing, blending, supply, and storage of products.

In May last year, Petrocosta's Commercial Director, Antonio Reinoso, told Bunker Index that the new partnership with Dan-Bunkering in Cartagena "will allow us to have a better position in our cash flow, therefore with Dan-Bunkering we can look at other opportunities."

Reinoso also informed Bunker Index at the time that the company was planning to restart its bunker supply operations in the Atlantic coast ports of Barranquilla and Santa Marta - three years after deciding to halt its physical activities in both locations - with a truck-to-ship operation sourcing product from Ecopetrol and other suppliers.