TotalEnergies and CMA CGM Establish LNG Bunkering Joint Venture to Drive Maritime Decarbonization in Europe
TotalEnergies (Paris:TTE) (LSE:TTE) (NYSE:TTE), a major global energy company, and CMA CGM Group, one of the world’s leading integrated players in maritime, land, air, and logistics solutions, have announced the formation of a 50/50 joint venture aimed at creating a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering infrastructure at the Port of Rotterdam. This landmark partnership underscores both companies’ shared commitment to accelerating the maritime industry’s transition toward cleaner, low-carbon energy solutions.
Strategic LNG Expansion at Europe’s Largest Port Hub
Under the terms of the agreement, the joint venture will focus on implementing and operating a robust LNG bunkering logistics service in Rotterdam, one of Europe’s most strategically important maritime ports. At the heart of this collaboration is the commissioning of a new 20,000 cubic-meter LNG bunker vessel, which is expected to be delivered and operational by the end of 2028.
This newly constructed vessel will significantly enhance LNG delivery capacity across the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region. It will be responsible for delivering LNG fuel to a variety of vessels operating in the region, including CMA CGM’s growing fleet of LNG-powered container ships and other commercial shipping operators seeking cleaner fuel options.
The partnership will build on the existing LNG infrastructure already in place in the region, particularly the operations of TotalEnergies’ 18,600 m³ LNG bunkering vessel Gas Agility, which has been servicing the ARA port area since 2020. By creating synergies between the new LNG vessel and existing assets, the joint venture aims to offer highly flexible, efficient, and reliable LNG bunkering services throughout Northwestern Europe.
Fueling CMA CGM’s LNG-Powered Fleet with Long-Term Supply
In a move designed to ensure fuel security and long-term operational certainty, TotalEnergies has committed to supplying CMA CGM with up to 360,000 tons of LNG annually from 2028 through 2040. This LNG supply agreement aligns closely with CMA CGM’s broader strategic ambition of achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050.
CMA CGM has aggressively expanded its LNG-powered vessel program in recent years and plans to operate 123 dual-fuel LNG ships by 2029. This latest agreement guarantees the scalable and stable supply of LNG fuel to support this future fleet, helping the company navigate the transition from traditional heavy fuel oils to cleaner-burning, lower-emission alternatives.
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, highlighted the significance of the new venture:
“We are proud to further contribute, alongside a partner like CMA CGM, to the development of an LNG bunkering supply chain in one of Europe’s leading port hubs. LNG is today the most mature and immediately available solution to reduce the environmental footprint of maritime transport. This strategic partnership not only strengthens our position as a major player in LNG bunkering but also illustrates the shared commitment of two leading French companies to actively support the energy transition.”
Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM Group, echoed those sentiments:
“With this joint venture, CMA CGM and TotalEnergies are taking a new step to support the energy transition in shipping. For the first time, a shipping company and an energy provider will jointly operate an LNG bunkering vessel, based in the port of Rotterdam. It is a concrete way to scale up alternative fuels and accelerate the decarbonization of global trade.”
The joint venture remains subject to customary regulatory approvals before it can formally commence operations.
A Deepening Alliance Rooted in Sustainability
This initiative marks yet another milestone in a long-standing partnership between TotalEnergies and CMA CGM. Over the past several years, the two companies have worked closely to advance the development and deployment of LNG as a marine fuel, particularly in key European ports.
- 2017: TotalEnergies and CMA CGM signed a decade-long contract for the annual supply of 300,000 tons of LNG in Rotterdam.
- 2019: The collaboration expanded with another 10-year agreement for 250,000 tons of LNG annually, this time focused on operations in Marseille Fos.
- 2020: The Gas Agility delivered 17,300 m³ of LNG during the first bunkering of a large CMA CGM container vessel in Rotterdam.
- 2021: France’s first LNG bunkering of a CMA CGM ship occurred in Dunkirk, involving nearly 16,400 m³ of LNG.
- 2022: Marseille Fos hosted its first ship-to-containership LNG bunkering operation, with around 6,000 m³ of LNG supplied to CMA CGM vessels.
This consistent progression of cooperative efforts has not only helped build LNG infrastructure in Europe but has also proven the operational viability of using LNG as a maritime fuel on a large scale.
LNG: A Pillar in Maritime Decarbonization
Liquefied natural gas is playing an increasingly vital role in the global shipping industry’s pursuit of environmental sustainability. Compared to conventional marine fuels, LNG offers a significant reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—up to 20%—and delivers even greater benefits when renewable alternatives like biomethane or synthetic LNG are used, achieving GHG reductions of approximately 67% and 85%, respectively.
In addition to reducing carbon emissions, LNG drastically improves air quality by reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) by up to 85% and almost completely eliminating sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter—key pollutants associated with maritime transport.
TotalEnergies has made significant investments in LNG bunkering infrastructure worldwide. The company sees LNG as an essential component of the energy mix in shipping, particularly in the near- to medium-term, where alternative zero-emission solutions such as hydrogen and ammonia remain in earlier stages of development and deployment.
TotalEnergies: A Global LNG Powerhouse
With a global portfolio of 40 million tons per year in 2024, TotalEnergies ranks as the third-largest LNG player globally. Its integrated approach across the LNG value chain includes natural gas production, liquefaction, shipping, regasification, marketing, and bunkering.
The company has access to more than 20 million tons per year of regasification capacity in Europe and maintains a trading arm that enables dynamic supply and demand balancing. TotalEnergies is focused on scaling natural gas to account for nearly 50% of its total energy mix by 2030, while simultaneously eliminating methane emissions along the gas value chain and assisting regional partners in transitioning away from coal.
CMA CGM: Charting a Low-Carbon Future
CMA CGM is widely recognized as one of the most progressive players in the maritime shipping industry when it comes to environmental innovation. The company is targeting carbon neutrality by 2050 and has invested heavily in sustainable fleet upgrades, low-carbon fuel alternatives, energy efficiency technologies, and digital optimization tools.
Its fuel diversification strategy includes not only LNG but also biomethane, e-methane, and green methanol, which will power the next wave of low-emission vessels in the coming decades. The Group’s actions reflect a strong belief that shipping, which accounts for approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, must transform rapidly if climate targets are to be met.
