PetroChina in first European LNG bunkering op

According to a statement by PetroChina International, the 6000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel, Optimus, which is on charter by Dutch LNG supplier Titan, recently sailed from the Gate LNG terminal in Rotterdam to UK’s Portsmouth port to complete the refueling of 2,000 tons of LNG.

These volumes were supplied by PetroChina International London.

PetroChina International said this is the first time the company has carried out the LNG bunkering business in Europe, marking the extension of the value chain to terminal services.

The firm joined forces with Titan for this maiden LNG bunkering operation.

According to PetroChina International, it signed a memorandum of understanding with Titan in December last year.

PetroChina International did not provide further information.

Last month, France’s Brittany Ferries and Titan completed the first LNG bunkering operation in the UK’s Portsmouth port.

Optimus delivered LNG fuel to the E-Flexer class RoPax vessel, Saint-Malo during the operation.

According to its AIS data provided by VesselsValue, Optimus visited the UK port two times in the last month after loading volumes at Gate.

In March 2023, PetroChina International London agreed to book long-term capacity at the Gate LNG import terminal, which is owned by Gasunie and Vopak.

PetroChina International London acquired 2 Bcm per year of regasification and also corresponding storage capacity for a period of 20 years.