Repsol starts on Bilbao LNG bunkering terminal construction

Spanish oil and gas company Repsol has started the construction of the LNG bunker terminal in the port of Bilbao, to supply the Brittany Ferries’ vessels Salamanca and Santoña.

The construction of this terminal is part of the long-term collaboration agreement between Repsol and Brittany Ferries for the supply of LNG in Spain. The agreement took place in 2019.

The Bilbao terminal will be commissioned in the first half of 2022. It will have a cryogenic tank with a storage capacity of 1,000 cubic metres.

The flexible design of the terminal will, in addition, allow it to serve different vessels in the future. This means it represents an important decarbonization opportunity for port operations.

The start of construction is on schedule, the company reported.

Also, the construction of a second terminal of the same capacity in Santander has already begun work.

European Commission through the CEF- Connecting Europe Facilities Programme co-financed both terminals.

These terminals are another step towards the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, with LNG as an alternative fuel for ships.

Specifically, the gasification of the Brittany Ferries’ lines operating from Bilbao and Santander will reduce annual CO2 emissions by approximately 73,000 tonnes.

Brittany Ferries’ vessels Salamanca and Santoña will start their operations in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Spain currently has six operational LNG reception and storage plants along its coastline.

According to data from Gasnam, the current fleet of LNG-powered ships worldwide is 221. This represents a growth of 70 per cent compared to the 131 ships that were sailing in 2018.

To conclude, Repsol sees LNG bunker as a growing business with significant environmental advantages.