Naturgy and Enagás to partner on bunker vessel for LNG and bio-LNG supply

Naturgy and Enagás —through its subsidiary Scale Green Energy— on Thursday (15 January) said they have reached an agreement to promote the decarbonisation of maritime transport in the Iberian Peninsula by building and chartering the state-of-the-art vessel Mistral LNG for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and BioLNG to all types of vessels.

The vessel will have a cargo capacity of 18,900 m³. Scale Green Energy, which began construction in early 2026, will operate the vessel, which will be chartered by Naturgy in 2028 under a long-term contract.

The Mistral LNG will operate, as its main market, in the Iberian Peninsula, which is being reinforced as a strategic hub in southern Europe for bunkering or supply of sustainable fuels, as well as in the area of ​​the Strait of Gibraltar and the Canary Islands, among other destinations in the Atlantic.

The ship will have a length of 138.8 meters, a dual-fuel engine, a service speed of 13 knots, and a range exceeding 4,500 nautical miles. Designed to supply LNG and bioLNG fuel, the vessel will be equipped with advanced technology to minimise emissions and optimise efficiency.

With this initiative, Naturgy positions itself as a strategic operator in the Iberian LNG and bioLNG bunkering market , which is projected to experience exponential growth in the coming years, and advances its commitment to driving the energy transition by offering competitive solutions to its customers. The company has extensive expertise in the energy supply sector and plays a key role in supplying Spain as the country’s main importer of natural gas.

For its part, Enagás—through its subsidiary Scale Green Energy—is consolidating its position as a major player in LNG bunkering in Southern Europe by adding this new vessel to its existing fleet of three ships: Levante LNG, Alisios LNG, and Haugesund Knutsen. 

This contributes to the European strategy for reducing emissions in maritime transport and has a driving effect on LNG plants in Spain. All seven Spanish regasification plants are already equipped to supply LNG for bunkering, and those in Barcelona, ​​Cartagena, Huelva, and Gijón have already begun supplying BioLNG to ships and tankers.

This project will help meet the growing demand for alternative fuels in maritime transport and comply with new European regulations requiring a progressive reduction in emissions from marine fuels. In 2024, orders for LNG and bioLNG-powered vessels doubled compared to 2023, and LNG bunkering demand is expected to continue increasing steadily in the Iberian Peninsula in the coming years.

The BioLNG service, which has no associated emissions, uses the interconnected infrastructure from the regasification plants, so that the biomethane injected into the gas network is recognized as BioLNG —a liquid biofuel obtained by processing domestic and industrial organic waste—.

Photo credit: Enagás
Published: 16 January, 2025