Qatargas signs MoU for LNG marine fuel

Qatargas has signed a memorandum of understanding with Shell and Danish petroleum transportation conglomerate Maersk, the Qatari LNG producer said in a press release today.

The agreement will enable Qatargas 4, a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Shell, to explore the development of LNG as marine fuel and make supplies ready for potential use onboard Maersk merchant vessels.

The ceremony was attended by the chairman of the board of directors of Qatargas, Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, Qatargas CEO Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Maersk CEO Nils Smedegaard Anderson and Shell International Trading Middle East general manager Danny Leek.

“The possible use of LNG as fuel for ships presents an opportunity to reduce both sulphur oxide emissions and in reducing the transport sector’s carbon dioxide footprint,” Anderson stated.

“We have recently celebrated a global first by proving the use of LNG as a reliable marine fuel in the converted diesel engines of our time chartered vessel MV Rasheeda, now fitted with an M-type electronically controlled gas injection system,” Al Thani said.

Qatargas remains the world’s largest producer of LNG with a capacity of 42 million tonnes per year from its facilities in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City north of the capital.

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