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Maersk, Qatargas, Shell team up on use of LNG as marine fuel

Maersk

Qatargas, the Maersk Group and Shell signed a Memorandum of  Understanding (MOU) to explore the development of LNG as a marine fuel  in the Middle East region.

Through the joint relationship the partners plan to explore the  development of new markets for LNG to be used as propulsion fuel for  merchant vessels. The MOU envisages LNG supplies for this initiative  to be made available from Qatargas 4, a joint venture between Qatar  Petroleum and Shell Gas B.V., with Maersk Line potentially using the  fuel for its merchant vessels.

The MOU was signed at a ceremony attended by Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi,  Chairman of Qatargas Board of Directors, Qatargas Chief Executive  Officer, Khalid Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Maersk Group Chief Executive  Officer, Nils S. Andersen and Shell International Trading Middle East  Limited General Manager, Danny Leek.

“We are very proud to continue to pioneer new and novel opportunities  to utilize Qatar’s LNG. We are also proud to partner with industry  leaders such as Maersk and Shell to create potential new market  opportunities for Qatar’s LNG and, at the same time, provide ship  operators around the globe with a cleaner fuel alternative to the  heavy fuel oils currently in use,” Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Chairman of  Qatargas Board of Directors, said.

“This cooperation between Qatargas, Maersk Group and Shell represents  an important step in developing LNG as a viable fuel for maritime  transportation. The possible use of LNG as fuel for ships presents an  opportunity to reduce both SOx emissions and in reducing the transport  sectors CO2 foot print,” comments Nils S. Andersen, Maersk Group Chief  Executive Officer.

Michiel Kool, Managing Director and Chairman of Qatar Shell Companies  added: “LNG fuel is a new alternative for ship and vessel operators  responding to stricter emission control standards. Shell has been a  pioneer in this area with our investments in LNG for transport  infrastructure in Europe and the US, and we look forward to now  deploying our expertise to create a regional hub in the Middle East in  collaboration with Qatargas, the largest LNG producer in the world and  Maersk, the world’s largest shipping container company”.



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