The Netherlands: Port of Rotterdam, Others to Promote LNG as Fuel

At least 50 inland vessels, 50 ocean-going vessels and 500 trucks running on Liquefied Natural Gas or LNG: it can be reality in 2015. The use of LNG as a transport fuel has positive effects on the environment and health, because its combustion produces significantly less particulate matter and other emissions.

The use of LNG is also quieter. Moreover, it boosts the good economic position of our country in the field of gas and reduces our dependence on oil. Gas is in stock worldwide and the stocks are well distributed, resulting in a stabilising effect on prices. One group of companies intends to collaborate with the government on the accelerated introduction of LNG as a transport fuel. The initiators of this plan, including the Port of Rotterdam Authority and employers’ organisation Deltalinqs, agreed on this with the Dutch ministers of Economic Affairs and the Environment this afternoon.

National LNG Platform

Various initiatives are under way to use LNG as transport fuel for trucks, inland shipping, coastal shipping, ferries, fishing boats and tugboats in and around the port of Rotterdam and in the northern provinces. The activities focus on two concrete areas: the Wadden and North Sea area and the Rotterdam-Basel Rhine waterway, including Amsterdam and Vlissingen. Cooperation is essential to make good use of the huge potential. Because all the projects encounter the same difficulties, a National LNG Platform has been set up, which will work together with the government on preconditions. The first investments, as well as actual projects, are expected to be made in 2013. The Platform will target legislation, the legal framework, measures of incentive and social support and environmental management.

LNG, potential and environmental gain

A (Dutch) market can potentially be opened up for 2 to 3 million tonnes of LNG as transport fuel (2030), which represents a reduction in CO2 equivalents of more than 1 million tonnes per year and in particulate matter of 400 to 600 tonnes per year. The NOx and SO2 emissions will also drop drastically and noise levels will decrease greatly. Further greening can take place in the long term through enlarging the share of Bio-LNG, based on organic carbon.

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LNG World News Staff, June 18, 2012; Image: GATE