Shipping fuel change to upend refining

London

A SWITCH to cleaner fuels in the world's ships in 2020 could double the profits of the world's most advanced oil refineries - but threatens to put older ones out of business and punish those countries, including prominent Opec members, that produce the wrong kind of crude.

In less than four years, ships worldwide will have to cut their sulphur emissions to 0.5 per cent from 3.5 per cent now.