French energy group TotalEnergies has expanded its LNG bunkering capacity, with the addition of a new vessel on charter from Spanish shipowner Ibaizabal.
The new vessel will be capable of supplying LNG to a wide range of vessels and the firm suggests it ‘might be deployed in Oman, where the Company is developing the Marsa LNG project’.
Louise Tricoire, TotalEnergies Senior Vice President, Aviation and Marine Fuels, said, “We are very proud of this agreement with Ibaizabal, which reinforces our position as a main player in LNG bunkering”.
Long-term relationship
Currently under construction by Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China, the new vessel will be delivered by the end of 2026 and will expand TotalEnergies’ fleet of deployed LNG bunker vessels to four in total.
Jorge Zickermann, CEO Ibaizabal Group, comments, “Ibaizabal is honoured to be chosen to carry out this Project as it falls within our strategy of decarbonizing the maritime industry, together with a leading company in the LNG field, while enhancing the already long-term relationship in shipping with TotalEnergies.”
TotalEnergies current fleet includes the Gas Agility, positioned in the Port of Rotterdam, the Gas Vitality, operated from the Port of Marseille and the Brassavola located in the Port of Singapore.
Increasing demand
TotalEnergies is a strong supporter of LNG as a transition fuel for the maritime sector, noting that it ‘is a sustainable, affordable and immediately available way of reducing emissions’ in the shipping sector.
“With new LNG-fuelled vessels coming on stream at a rapid pace, we are committed to playing our part in responding to the sector’s increasing demand for this fuel which can help global shipping meet its decarbonization ambitions,” Tricoire adds.
Headquartered in Paris TotalEnergies is the world’s third largest LNG player with a global portfolio of 44 Mt/y in 2023 and an integrated position across the LNG value chain. This includes production, transportation, trading, and LNG bunkering as well as access to more than 20 Mt/y of regasification capacity in Europe.
TotalEnergies anticipates growing international demand for LNG marine fuel with a rise of around 15% in the global fleet over the coming years.
“Worldwide, there are 1,000 LNG-powered ships in operation or on order, and the LNG fleet could reach 1,154 vessels by 2028,” a spokesperson for TotalEnergies predicted. “LNG today represents the best alternative solution in terms of emissions, availability and price for reducing the shipping industry’s environmental footprint.”
