Alternative Fuels

Pavilion Energy, Gasum and CNOOC to strengthen global LNG bunker supply network

Agreement between trio aims to establish central links across West and East in key LNG-bunker ready ports that include Baltic and North Sea ECA and key Chinese ports.

Published

2 years ago

November 15, 2022

Admin

Singapore-based firm Pavilion Energy, Gasum and China-based LNG importer CNOOC Gas and Power Group on Tuesday (15 November) announced the signing of a Heads of Agreement (HoA) for strategic collaboration to strengthen a global LNG bunker supply network for their customers in the world’s top three bunkering regions - Singapore, North West Europe (including Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp), as well as China coastal areas.

The agreement will allow the three parties to leverage on one another’s local expertise, strong logistics capabilities, and in-depth experience in LNG bunkering operations to bring ease, efficiency, and operational flexibility across global supply points to customers.

The HoA aims to establish central links across the West and East in key LNG-bunker ready ports that include the Baltic and North Sea ECA (North West Europe); key Chinese ports such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Ningbo; as well as Singapore.

This agreement follows an extension of Pavilion Energy’s partnership with Gasum in October 2020 to develop an LNG bunker supply network for both its customers in Singapore and Northern Europe. CNOOC’s latest participation will boost this industry alliance and further encourages the uptake of LNG as a cleaner marine fuel, in line with the maritime industry’s decarbonisation efforts, as well as the International Maritime Organisation’s agenda to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr. Alan Heng, Group CEO of Pavilion Energy, said, “Pavilion Energy is very pleased to deepen our cooperation with Gasum and at the same time, for the opportunity to also collaborate with another world class partner CNOOC, to complement our existing networks. The synergies of our operations will further facilitate customers’ access and demand for efficient, competitive, and optimised LNG bunkering solutions.”

Pavilion Energy is a pioneer in developing LNG bunkering for the maritime industry in Singapore and advocates for LNG as a cleaner marine fuel. Sealing this latest partnership agreement comes after a naming ceremony held on 4 October for its first dedicated LNG Bunker Vessel Newbuild – the Brassavola – and currently Singapore’s largest LNG bunker vessel for use in the Port of Singapore. It is slated for operation early next year.

Mr. Mika Wiljanen, CEO of Gasum, stated, “We at Gasum are very happy about this partnership with Pavilion Energy and CNOOC, not only because it expands our geographical reach and broadens our offering, but this agreement is also an excellent example of the kind of global collaboration that is needed to achieve a carbon-neutral future – no company can do this alone. The purpose of Gasum is to help our customers and partners transition towards cleaner energy and we see LNG as a very important stepping stone in decarbonising the maritime industry.”

As a distributor of LNG in Northern Europe, Gasum is strengthening the position of LNG in North West Europe and the Nordics, in accordance with the EU strategy for LNG. In 2021 Gasum performed over 1,300 ship-to-ship and truck-to-ship deliveries of LNG through its complete value chain which serves the distribution of both liquefied natural gas and liquefied biogas (LBG).

Mr. Rongwang Zhang, Vice President General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer of CNOOC Gas and Power Group, said: “CNOOC Gas and Power Group is thrilled to partner with Pavilion Energy and Gasum to develop LNG bunkering business. This tripartite cooperation is a crucial measure for CNOOC Gas and Power Group to develop a world-wide LNG bunkering supply network and it hopes to promote cooperatives in facilitating a low-carbon future at sea.”

CNOOC Gas and Power Group has created a fully integrated LNG industry chain into China, directly connecting upstream resources, transportation and trading with downstream natural gas customers. The company has also taken several firm steps to build international LNG bunkering infrastructures alongside China’s coastal areas to provide integrated bunker solutions for global customers.

Photo credit: Pavilion Energy

Published: 16 November, 2022

LNG Bunkering

New MOL vessel to be supplied LNG bunker fuel in Japan before voyage to Australia

After departing from Saijo Shipyard, LNG fuel will be supplied directly to “Verde Heraldo” through shore-to-ship bunkering at Senboku Terminal of Osaka Gas, and is then scheduled to sail for Australia.

Published

22 hours ago

April 22, 2025

Admin

New MOL vessel to be supplied LNG bunker fuel in Japan before voyage to Australia

Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) on Friday (18 April) said the naming and delivery ceremony for the LNG-fuelled Capesize bulker, which MOL ordered for JFE Steel Corporation, was held at the Saijo Shipyard of Imabari Shipbuilding.

The vessel was named the Verde Heraldo, which means “Green Pioneer” in Spanish, by JFE Steel President and CEO Masayuki Hirose. MOL executives including President & CEO Hashimoto were also on hand for the ceremony.

After departing from Saijo Shipyard, LNG fuel will be supplied directly to the vessel through shore-to-ship bunkering at the Senboku Terminal of Osaka Gas, and is then scheduled to sail for Australia.

The Verde Heraldo will sail under long-term transport contracts to supply raw materials for JFE Steel's mills, providing both reduced environmental impact and safe and reliable marine transport services.

About Verde Heraldo

LOA: 299.99 m
Breadth: 50.00 m
Draft: 18.436 m
Deadweight tonnage: 210,321 tonnes
Shipyards: Imabari Shipbuilding and Nihon Shipyard

Photo credit: Mitsui OSK Lines
Published: 22 April, 2025

Alternative Fuels

Indonesia and HDF Energy partner to study hydrogen solutions for maritime decarbonisation

Agreement between HDF Energy, Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation, PLN and ASDP outlined a joint study to decarbonise Indonesia’s maritime sector using locally produced green hydrogen.

Published

23 hours ago

April 22, 2025

Admin

Indonesia and HDF Energy partner to study hydrogen solutions for maritime decarbonisation

PT HDF Energy Indonesia, a subsidiary of French hydrogen infrastructure developer HDF Energy, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation (MoT), state-owned electric utility PT PLN (Persero) and ferry operator PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero).

The agreement outlined a joint study to decarbonise Indonesia's maritime sector using locally produced green hydrogen. The study will be conducted in collaboration with, and co-funded by, the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The MoU was signed during the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit on April 15, 2025 in Indonesia.

The study will focus on Eastern Indonesia, a region with plenty of sun and home to many of ASDP's strategic ferry routes. HDF Energy is currently developing 23 Renewstable® hydrogen power plants in the region. These facilities combine a solar park with substantial on-site energy storage in the form of green hydrogen to provide non-intermittent, stable and 100% clean electricity to the grid, day and night.

By generating surplus green hydrogen at a competitive marginal cost, Renewstable® plants also pave the way for the supply of green hydrogen to decarbonise maritime transport. The hydrogen produced will be used to power the high-power fuel cells developed and manufactured by HDF Energy in France, a modular, reliable solution tailored to the conversion of maritime fleets.

With this project, HDF Energy is deploying an integrated approach: producing competitive green hydrogen locally and offering a zero-emission maritime vessels' propulsion solution based on its fuel cells.

ASDP, which operates one of the world's largest ferry networks, plays a critical role in connecting Indonesia's remote islands. As a key player in the maritime sector's energy transition, the company will contribute to the study to identify opportunities for converting its fleet and port infrastructures. The aim is to replace traditional diesel engines with solutions based on green hydrogen and renewable electricity, in order to significantly reduce emissions.

PLN has already taken a proactive role in launching hydrogen pilot projects across the country. The company previously signed an MoU with HDF Energy to accelerate the deployment of Renewstable® hydrogen power plants as a green alternative to diesel-based power — a collaboration representing potential investments of up to USD 2.3 billion, supported by international development institutions including the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

On the same occasion, HDF also signed an MoU with PT Pelayaran Bahtera Adhiguna (PT BAg), a national shipping company specialising in sea transportation services for primary energy distribution across Indonesia. The partnership reflects a joint commitment to assessing hydrogen as a clean alternative to power auxiliary systems on large vessels.

Mathieu Geze, HDF Energy's Director for APAC and President Director of PT HDF Energy Indonesia, stated: “We are proud to reaffirm our commitment to a Net Zero emission future through this strategic collaboration. Working together with PLN, ASDP, the Ministry of Transportation, and with PT Bag, we aim to place Indonesia at the forefront of green hydrogen innovation in the Asia-Pacific. Our fuel cells represent a decisive step forward in the decarbonization of maritime transport in the Indonesian archipelago, as well as a formidable showcase for French innovation on the international stage.”

On a regional scale, this partnership in Indonesia is part of HDF Energy's development drive in Southeast Asia.

On 11 April, in the Philippines, HDF signed a MoU with the Department of Transportation to harness green hydrogen—produced by HDF's Renewstable® power plants currently under development—to power the next generation of hydrogen-fuelled maritime vessels.

The following day in Vietnam, HDF entered into a strategic partnership with ACST, an organisation affiliated with the Ministry of Construction, to advance green hydrogen solutions, including the retrofitting of diesel ferries with HDF's hydrogen fuel cells.

Photo credit: HDF Energy
Published: 22 April, 2025

Biofuel

Argus Media: IMO incentive to shape bio-bunker choices

IMO proposal for ship owners who exceed emissions reduction targets to earn surplus credits will play a key role in biofuel bunkering options going forward.

Published

23 hours ago

April 22, 2025

Admin

An International Maritime Organization (IMO) proposal for ship owners who exceed emissions reduction targets to earn surplus credits will play a key role in biofuel bunkering options going forward.

22 April 2025

The price of these credits will help determine whether B30 or B100 becomes the preferred bio-bunker fuel for vessels not powered by LNG or methanol. It will also influence whether biofuel adoption is accelerated or delayed beyond 2032.

At the conclusion of its meeting earlier this month the IMO proposed a dual-incentive mechanism to curb marine GHG emissions starting in 2028. The system combines penalties for non-compliance with financial incentives for over-compliance, aiming to shift ship owner behavior through both "stick" and "carrot" measures. As the "carrot", ship owners whose emissions fall below the IMO's stricter compliance target will receive surplus credits, which can be traded on the open market. The "stick" will introduce a two-tier penalty system. If emissions fall between the base and direct GHG emissions tiers, vessel operators will pay a fixed penalty of $100/t CO2-equivalent. Ship owners whose emissions exceed the looser, tier 2, base target will incur a penalty of $380/t CO2e. Both tiers tighten annually through 2035.

The overcompliance credits will be traded on the open market. It is unlikely that they will exceed the cost of the tier 2 penalty of $380/t CO2e. Argus modeled two surplus credit price scenarios — $70/t and $250/t CO2e — to assess their impact on bunker fuel economics. Assessments from 10-17 April showed Singapore very low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) at $481/t, Singapore B30 at $740/t, and Chinese used cooking oil methyl ester (Ucome), or B100, at $1,143/t (see charts).

If the outright prices remain flat, in both scenarios, VLSFO would incur tier 1 and tier 2 penalties, raising its effective cost to around $563/t in 2028. B30 in both scenarios would receive credits putting its price at $653/t and $715/t respectively. In the high surplus credit scenario, B100 would earn roughly $580/t in credits, bringing its net cost to about $563/t, on par with VLSFO, and more competitive than B30. In the low surplus credit scenario, B100 would earn just $162/t in credits, lowering its cost to approximately $980/t, well above VLSFO.

At these spot prices, and $250/t CO2e surplus credit, B100 would remain the cheapest fuel option through 2035. At $70/t CO2e surplus credit, B30 becomes cost-competitive with VLSFO only after 2032. Ultimately, the market value of IMO over-compliance credits will be a major factor in determining the timing and extent of global biofuel adoption in the marine sector.

By Stefka Wechsler