French firms explore biomethane and bioLNG
French shipping and logistics company CMA CGM and French energy company ENGIE on November 10 agreed to collaborate on ways to produce and distribute synthetic methane as well as bio-LNG.
The French companies said they established a long-term partnership to support the development of methane for the shipping industry. Both companies are already working on liquefied biomethane for shippers at the French port of Marseille in a partnership with area officials and French major TotalEnergies.
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“ENGIE is leading further synthetic methane production industrial projects in which CMA CGM will have the possibility to invest, including by means of multi-year purchase commitments,” they stated.
CMA CGM, meanwhile, said it has already developed technology that allows shippers to use liquefied bio-methane or synthetic methane as a fuel source.
Shippers are looking for new, low-carbon solutions to meet their obligations to a protocol spearheaded by the International Maritime Organisation, dubbed IMO 2020. The French shipping company said bio-methane can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 67% when compared to very low sulphur fuel oil, another clean alternative for shippers.
“Synthetic methane, meanwhile, will eliminate the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions,” it said.
TotalEnergies and Engie, Provencale domestic waste treatment plant operator Evere and shipping and logistics firm CMA CGM joined forces in July on a possible liquefied bio-methane (bio-LNG) production project.
Biodegradable waste from the Marseilles-Provence region would enable low carbon shipping and would be used primarily for the CMA CGM Group’s LNG-powered vessels, TotalEnergies said.