Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has signed new supply agreements in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean region to expand the use of bio-LNG fuel on MOL-operated LNG-fuelled car carriers.
Titan, part of Molgas, will continue to supply bio-LNG fuel in Northwest Europe, while Axpo will take charge of supply in the Mediterranean region. This agreement makes it possible for MOL to use bio-LNG fuel for vehicle carriers in the Mediterranean region (Port of Malaga and Barcelona, Spain), following a bio-LNG fuel supply agreement, which commenced in March 2025.
Bio-LNG fuel is liquefied methane produced primarily from biomass such as livestock manure and food waste. It is an immediately available clean fuel that can contribute to carbon neutrality by significantly reducing lifecycle GHG emissions while using the LNG fuel supply infrastructure already in place. The bio-LNG fuel to be supplied in this initiative has a lifecycle carbon intensity (carbon dioxide emissions per unit of energy consumption) of -15 g-CO2/MJ or less, from production through consumption. Furthermore, this bio-LNG fuel has obtained International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC-EU).
MOL has now established a framework that ensures a continuous and stable supply of bio-LNG fuel in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. As part of the group’s efforts to adopt alternative fuels and achieve net-zero emissions – key actions outlined in the MOL Group Environmental Vision – it is deploying LNG-fuelled vessels as a bridge solution to facilitate the transition to carbon-neutral fuels such as bio-LNG and synthetic LNG (e-methane).
Going forward, MOL says it will step up efforts to reduce GHG emissions by expanding the geographic reach, volume, and quality of its bio-LNG fuel usage. The group will drive the development of clean fuel supply chains and lead the shipping industry’s initiatives to achieve net-zero emissions. In parallel with the expansion of its LNG-fuelled fleet, MOL will continue to promote the adoption of a diverse range of next-generation fuels-including biofuels, methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen.
Image: Bio-LNG fuel bunkering vessel supplying the ‘Cielo Ace’ (source: MOL)
