Engie and CMA CGM join forces to produce biomethane in Le Havre by 2029
The planned facility is expected to supply 7,000 tonnes of biomethane annually (equivalent to 100 GWh) to the shipping company's fleet starting in 2029. However, construction remains subject to a final investment decision, which Engie will make at the end of the development phase.
Engie leads the project, CMA CGM enters as a minority shareholder
Engie and CMA CGM announced on Tuesday the signing of a framework agreement to develop a biomethane production facility in Le Havre's industrial and port zone. Engie will lead the project development, particularly its technical design and authorization procedures.
Subject to a final investment decision, Engie will subsequently oversee the construction and operation of the facility. CMA CGM will invest in the project as a minority shareholder, through Pulse, its fund dedicated to technologies and infrastructure related to decarbonizing its transport and logistics activities.
This agreement follows on from the partnership initiated by the two groups in 2021.
Biomethane transported via the European gas network
The biomethane produced will be delivered to CMA CGM's fleet via the European gas network, within a certified traceability system for renewable gas volumes. It can be used by the shipping company's LNG-powered vessels without modifying engines or infrastructure.
According to the statement, this fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by at least 67% over its entire life cycle compared to conventional marine fuels. The volumes delivered are expected to avoid approximately 23,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.
The facility will transform waste from livestock farming, household organic waste, and agricultural residues. The process is also expected to produce 100,000 tonnes of digestate, usable as fertilizer by local farmers, and enable the recovery of 13,000 tonnes of biogenic CO₂ for commercial purposes.
Target of 10 TWh for Engie by 2035
Engie aims to achieve an annual biomethane production capacity of 10 TWh in Europe by 2035, compared to 1.2 TWh today, and states that this project will contribute to this objective. According to Catherine MacGregor, Engie's Chief Executive Officer, the agreement aims to develop solutions "enabling the decarbonization of sectors difficult to electrify".
For its part, CMA CGM targets carbon neutrality for all its activities by 2050. By 2030, more than 200 vessels in its fleet equipped with dual-fuel engines will be able to operate on biomethane, biomethanol, and synthetic fuels.
Rodolphe Saadé, Chief Executive Officer and President of CMA CGM, spoke of the ambition to "secure our access to renewable fuels". The two groups indicate that other initiatives are already under consideration in France and Europe.
