ENGIE and shipping and logistics group CMA CGM have agreed a framework deal to jointly develop a large-scale biomethane production plant in Le Havre’s industrial port zone in France.
The site, expected to begin operations in 2029/2030, will produce 7,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of biomethane, equivalent to approximately 100GW-hours (GWh).
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This renewable gas will be routed to CMA CGM’s vessels through the European gas network using a certified mass-balance approach.
The project is forecast to eliminate around 23,000tpa of carbon dioxide (CO₂).
ENGIE will oversee the development, technical design and permitting process of the facility.
Subject to a final investment decision, ENGIE will also be responsible for construction and operations.
ENGIE CEO Catherine MacGregor said: “With the construction of this new facility, we are pursuing our ambition to expand biomethane production capacity in support of the energy transition.
“This partnership with CMA CGM demonstrates how industrial and energy players can work together to develop concrete solutions to decarbonise hard-to-electrify sectors, while strengthening energy sovereignty and the development of renewable gases.”
CMA CGM will participate as a minority co-investor through PULSE, the shipping company’s dedicated fund for clean energy technologies and decarbonisation infrastructure.
The biomethane will be produced by processing livestock waste, household biowaste and agricultural residues.
The partners indicate that this method can cut life cycle greenhouse gas emissions by at least 67% compared to traditional marine fuels.
CMA CGM intends to use the biomethane in its liquefied natural gas-powered vessels without requiring modifications to existing engines or fuelling infrastructure.
CMA CGM chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé said: “I am pleased to strengthen our partnership with ENGIE, one of France’s leading energy companies.
“As we invest together in biomethane production in France’s largest container port, Le Havre, we are pursuing our long-term vision in securing access to renewable fuels, while contributing to the energy sovereignty of France and Europe.”
Beyond fuel output, the facility is set to yield around 100,000tpa of digestate, an organic by-product that local agricultural producers can apply as a soil nutrient.
A separate stream of roughly 13,000t of biogenic CO₂ will also be captured and sold commercially, bolstering the project’s overall carbon credentials.
The agreement builds on a partnership between ENGIE and CMA CGM that launched in 2021.
For ENGIE, the plant contributes to its aim of reaching 10TW-hours (TWh) of yearly biomethane capacity across Europe by 2035, compared with 1.2TWh at present.
CMA CGM, which has outlined a net-zero target for 2050, expects to have more than 200 dual-fuel vessels in service by 2030 that can run on biomethane, biomethanol and synthetic fuels.
