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LNG fuel for the Baltic Sea

Oslo: Oil and LNG terminal operator Klaipedos Nafta and Bomin Linde have signed an MoU on LNG bunker fuel.

Germany’s Bomin Linde LNG will work together with Lithuania’s liquefied natural gas import terminal developer Klaipedos Nafta to increase LNG as marine fuel in the Baltic Sea, writes Reuters.

The first LNG import terminal in the Baltic states was opened in December. The introduction of LNG will decrease Lithuania’s dependence on pipeline gas imports from Russia  and it’s needed as regulations force vessels to switch to cleaner fuels. The Baltic became one of the world’s first emission control areas (ECAs) at the start of this year.

“In close cooperation both companies aim to jointly develop the LNG fuel market including the necessary infrastructure in Baltic Sea,” Klaipedos Nafta said in a statement after signing the MoU with the German LNG supplier.

Hamburg-based Bomin Linde LNG, a joint venture between Linde Group and Mabanaft, a subsidiary of Marquard&Bahls AG, aim to use the terminal as  a regional breakbulk hub.

Bomin Linde LNG and Klaipedos Nafta also  say they want to develop LNG bunkering  feeder services, with a feed and LNG reloading station in Klaipeda. Recently Litgas, a Lithuanian LNG importer, said it was eying cooperation with Norway’s Statoil also for developing bunkering services in the Baltic Sea.

The Klaipeda terminal can store 170,000 cu m of  LNG.

Hans Thaulow

Hans Henrik Thaulow is an Oslo-based journalist who has been covering the shipping industry for the last 15 years. As well as some work for the Informa Group, Hans was the China correspondent for TradeWinds. He also contributes to Maritime CEO magazine. Hans’ shipping background extends to working as a shipbroker trainee with Simpson, Spence & Young in Hong Kong.
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