Axpo completes its first ship-to-ship bio-LNG bunkering operation in Barcelona

Switzerland’s energy producer Axpo on Monday (22 June) said the company completed its first ship-to-ship bio liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation in the port of Barcelona. 

Mitsui OSK Lines’s (MOL) vehicle carrier Lapis Ace received bio-LNG from Axpo’s bunkering vessel Green Pearl, marking another milestone in the development of alternative marine fuels infrastructure and services in Spain. 

Reinforcing its commitment to supporting the maritime industry’s transition to lower-emission fuels, this latest ship-to-ship bio-LNG bunkering operation demonstrates Axpo’s expanding capability to serve leading shipping operators across major ports in Spain. 

Axpo’s Head of Small-Scale LNG Daniele Corti, said: “The refuelling operation with MOL in Barcelona represents another key moment for LNG adoption in Spain. We’re not only developing infrastructure. We’re proving that alternative marine fuels can be operationally reliable and cost-effective. 

“As demand for LNG and bio-LNG continues to increase, Axpo’s growing operations in Málaga, Algeciras and now Barcelona demonstrate that this is no longer a niche market. It is a critical stepping stone in the maritime industry’s transition to a lower-carbon future.”

Axpo has been selected to supply bio-LNG fuel to MOL across the Mediterranean, providing bunkering services at the Spanish ports of Málaga and Barcelona. The agreement expands Axpo’s role in lower-emission maritime transport and builds on its existing Western European supply partnership with MOL, which began in March 2025.

Axpo’s presence in Spanish ports has grown substantially over the past year. In April 2025, the company completed its first LNG delivery in Málaga, followed by successful operations in Algeciras and Sines (Portugal). 

These milestones were made possible by Axpo’s 7,500-cubic-metre small-scale LNG vessel Green Pearl, improving the speed, flexibility and efficiency of bunkering operations across the Mediterranean. Axpo currently also holds a licence to operate in the port of Valencia.

In Italy, Axpo conducted the country’s first ship-to-ship bio-LNG refuelling in December 2025. Shortly afterwards, in March 2026, the bunkering vessel Alisios LNG, chartered by Axpo, was launched at the port of Huelva in southwestern Spain. 

Axpo’s ten-year charter of the Green Pearl and ongoing expansion of its bio-LNG portfolio reflect the company’s belief that industry collaboration is essential to achieving global emissions targets. By partnering with leading shipping operators like MOL and MSC, Axpo is demonstrating how coordinated action can accelerate the maritime sector’s shift toward cleaner fuels.

Related: MOL inks bio-LNG bunker fuel supply deals with Titan and Axpo for car carriers in Europe

Photo credit: Daniele Corti
Published: 23 June, 2026