Liquefied natural gas for shipping by 2015 at the latest. This is the aim behind collaboration between private infrastructure companies and the Port of Gothenburg and the Port of Rotterdam. The project will receive SEK 305 million in funding from the EU.
"EU support is a clear indication of how important shipping is for sustainable transport throughout Europe," says Magnus Kårestedt, Port of Gothenburg Chief Executive.
A formal decision will be reached in a few months. There are already strong indications that the investment in LNG terminals in Rotterdam and Gothenburg will be one of the EU Commission's most prioritised Motorways of the Seas projects ever.
The Dutch company Vopak and the Swedish gas infrastructure company Swedegas are investing in an LNG terminal in Gothenburg. The terminal will supply LNG to both shipping and industry.
The collaboration with the Port of Rotterdam, and the Dutch gas infrastructure companiy Gasunie will involve constructing the necessary LNG infrastructure at the GATE LNG terminal in Rotterdam. This will enable the supply to the LNG terminal in Gothenburg. Other key areas of the cooperation include producing regulations for handling LNG and developing knowledge of LNG as a marine fuel
"A major benefit of this collaboration is that we can work together and send a very clear signal to the market that LNG will be available at the largest port in Europe and the largest port in the Nordic region. The shipping companies need to be assured of this before investing in new LNG-powered vessels," says Lars Gustafsson, CEO of Swedegas.
There are considerable environmental benefits to be gained from using LNG in shipping and industry. Sulphur and particle emissions are reduced to almost zero, nitric oxide emissions by 85-90 per cent and carbon dioxide emissions by 25 per cent.
For further information, contact Cecilia Carlsson, Corporate Communications Manager, Port of Gothenburg, phone +46 31 368 75 45, or Saila Horttanainen, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Swedegas AB, +46 70-622 76 06.