Italian LNG fueling station network for trucks keeps growing as more owners opt to use the fuel to cut transport costs and emissions. But the maritime sector will also see the launch of several developments in the country this year.
According to the SSLNG Watch report by consultancy REF-E, Italy now has 105 LNG filling stations for trucks. These include LNG and L-CNG stations.
In addition, the number of trucks in the country increased to about 3,500 units, including those registered abroad, the consultancy said.
According to the consultancy, these statistics confirmed Italy’s leadership in Europe both in the number of stations and trucks.
Moreover, the overall use of LNG continued to rise despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Besides the vehicular sector, this includes the maritime sector and other industries.
The consultancy says that small-scale LNG consumption in Italy reached about 130,000 t, a rise of 26 percent when compared in 2019.
Small-scale and bunkering developments in Italy
To remind, Carnival Corporation’s Costa Cruises said in October last year its vessel Costa Smeralda completed the first LNG bunkering operation in Italy.
The operation took place on October 25 in the port of La Spezia while Shell supplied the fuel.
Although Italy’s LNG bunkering chain will need time to develop, this year will definitely see some new small-scale maritime developments in the country.
These include the launch of Avenir LNG’s Higas small-scale terminal located on the Italian island of Sardinia but also the facility currently under construction in the Italian port of Ravenna. The PIR Group-led facility includes Edison and Enagas.
In addition, OLT Offshore LNG Toscana has last year received approval to offload chilled fuel to small-scale vessels from its FSRU located off the coast between Livorno and Pisa.
The most recent approval involves Italy’s Venice LNG that plans to build and operate a small-scale terminal in Porto Marghera in the northern Adriatic Sea.