Shell Wins Gibraltar LNG Bunkering Licence

The government of the UK overseas territory of Gibraltar announced on January 26 it had granted Shell a licence to bunker LNG at its port. 

Gibraltar is Europe's second-largest bunkering port, supplying around 4mn metric tons/year of marine fuels. Its first LNG bunkering operation took place in 2019, carried out by the Netherlands' Titan LNG. LNG bunkering has become very popular in the broader Iberian region, with Spain reporting a surge in operations to 741 last year from 199 in 2019.

Shell applied for the permit back in 2019. Port authorities will work with the company to further develop bunkering services, port minister Vijay Daryanani said, "in line with the aspiration to keep Gibraltar on the leading edge of developments in the bunkering industry and to reinforce our position as a bunkering hub."

Gibraltar's chief minister Fabian Picardo said Shell's involvement in LNG bunkering at the port "demonstrates our forward thinking approach to developing the maritime industry, as well as ensuring that Gibraltar is part of the transition to cleaner fuels and reduced environmental impact."

Shell is betting big on the increased use of LNG in bunkering. The Anglo-Dutch major already has six LNG bunkering vessels in operation or about to start service, and expects to double this number by 2025.