PitPoint.LNG says to build Germany’s 1st LNG bunkering station

For illustration only (Image courtesy of PitPoint.LNG)

PitPoint.LNG said it will set up Germany’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering station in the harbor of Cologne.

PitPoint.LNG is a joint venture formed by Dutch PitPoint clean fuels and Primagaz Nederland.

The new station will facilitate the bunkering of LNG-powered inland vessels that sail on Europe’s busiest transport waterway, the Rhine.

The construction of the bunkering station is the next step in PitPoint.LNG’s strategy to develop a European LNG infrastructure to facilitate the uptake of LNG as fuel for road and marine transport, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

The launching customer for the LNG bunkering station will be the Hague-based LNG giant Shell. Shell and PitPoint.LNG have signed a long-term agreement.

As from the start of operation, which is planned for mid-2018, this LNG bunkering station will bunker the chilled fuel for the inland dual-fuel barges that Shell has chartered from Antwerp-based Plouvier Transport and its Swiss unit Intertrans Tankschiffahrt.

“We are very pleased to start with the realization of this LNG bunkering station and to have Shell as a key launching customer. Enabling companies such as Shell to transport and deliver their goods in a cleaner and more environmental friendly way supports PitPoint’s mission to realize 100% clean transport in 2030,” said Jan Willem Drijver, Managing Director at PitPoint.LNG.

Lauran Wetemans, Shell’s General Manager Downstream LNG, said that together with the infrastructure developed in Rotterdam, this station would expand the availability of LNG fuel for customers on the Rhine – Europe’s key inland waterway.

“We look forward to working with PitPoint.LNG to make this a reality,” added Wetemans.