Spain’s Repsol is working to launch its second liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering terminal to supply vessels operated by French shipping firm Brittany Ferries.
Repsol is already operating what it says is the first LNG bunkering terminal in Spain.
The facility, which features one 1,000-cbm tank, came into operation in July in the northern Spanish port of Bilbao.
Besides this facility, Repsol previously said it would build another LNG bunkering terminal with the same capacity in the neighboring city of Santander.
Repsol said in a statement it plans to launch this LNG bunkering terminal during the first half of 2023.
Both terminals are co-financed by the European Commission through the CEF-Connecting Europe Facilities Programme.
Repsol did not reveal the price tag for the second facility but it previously said it would invest about 10 million euros ($10.5 million) in the first bunkering terminal.
These terminals will fuel LNG-powered ferries as part of a long-term collaboration deal for LNG supply Repsol and Brittany Ferries signed back in 2019.
According to Repsol, the LNG-powered Salamanca regularly fuels at Bilbao. Brittany Ferries took delivery of this vessel it chartered from Sweden’s Stena RoRo in November last year.
This vessel will be joined by its sister ship, Santona, as well.
“Only the gasification of the Salamanca and Santona vessels operating from Bilbao and Santander will allow avoiding more than 73,000 tons of CO2 per year,” Repsol said.
Repsol said it had up to date carried out more than 100 LNG bunker operations to 28 different vessels in seven Spanish ports.