French shipping liner CMA CGM has entered into a long-term strategic and industrial partnership with utility company ENGIE in a bid to decarbonise the shipping industry.
The collaboration seeks to support the development of a synthetic methane production and distribution industry that can be used by the shipping sector. A project to produce liquefied biomethane (BioLNG) for shipping has already been launched by both parties at the Port Marseille, in partnership with Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence and TotalEnergies.
ENGIE is leading synthetic methane production industrial projects, giving CMA CGM the possibility to invest, including by means of multi-year purchase commitments.
Both companies are investing significant amounts in research and development (R&D), alongside their industrial partners, to find the energy sources of the future to enable the decarbonisation of the shipping industry.
Through this partnership, both groups have agreed to share knowledge and R&D work, most notably in technologies such as carbon capture and green hydrogen production, to ensure the durability of the industry.
Furthermore, the newly announced partnership covers the analysis of future regulations and aims to raise awareness of the benefits of BioLNG and synthetic methane for the shipping industry. This is demonstrated in a statement from ENGIE, as it revealed liquefied natural gas (LNG) can reduce sulphur oxide emissions by 99%, fine particle emissions by 91% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 92%.
CMA CGM and ENGIE have also been working together for several months as part of the Coalition for the energy of the future, launched in 2019 at the Assises de l’economie de la Mer conference. Through this coalition, both companies are driving the development of energy sources and technologies of the future, supporting new models of sustainable mobility, and reducing the shipping and logistics industry’s climate impact.
BigCommerce has also recently signed a strategic partnership agreement with CMA CGM to enable thousands of its subsidiary NewOxatis’ merchants to build world-class digital storefronts. Announced in October 2021, the partnership will provide NewOxatis merchants with access to the best-in-breed technology, preeminent tech and agency partnerships and cross-channel expansions.
