LNG

Canadian company Énergir and the Québec Port Authority have completed their 100th liquified natural gas re-fuelling operation as the French-speaking province embraces maritime bunkering, though rejects LNG production for export.

“This major achievement is a testament to both companies’ leadership to supply the maritime industry in LNG, and to their expertise in bunkering operations in Canada,” said Énergir, the main gas distribution company in the province.

The bunkering takes place in or around the port of Québec City, which sits on the Saint Lawrence River and is the oldest Canadian port and the second-largest after Montreal.

The LNG bunkering station, implemented by Énergir’s subsidiary, Gaz Métro Transport Solutions in 2018, is available to all shipowners passing through.

“These 100 LNG bunkers completed at the Port of Québec have supplied five vessels owned by Desgagnés, a Québec shipowner that has shown great vision in adopting LNG as a marine fuel and who also actively participated in the implementation of the bunkering system,” said Énergir.

The Desgagnés fleet includes cargo shipping, ferries and tankers with more LNG-powered vessels being added in the future.

Énergir noted that LNG as a maritime fuel was expanding in North. America to meet new emissions standards in ports.

“This solution is one of the concrete actions included in the Port of Québec’s Sustainable Development Action Plan, which aims to develop maritime trade by adopting environmentally friendly practices while favoring transitional energy,” added Énergir.

“Being one of the best sources of energy available to shipowners on the market, LNG is experiencing significant growth and is recognized elsewhere in the world, particularly in Europe,” stated the company.

Énergir is also present in the US where it generates electricity from renewable sources, while serving as the leading electricity distributor and the sole natural gas supplier in the northeast US state of Vermont.