MPA, CMA CGM and SLNG sign MoU to advance liquefied bio-methane in Singapore

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), shipping group CMA CGM and Singapore LNG Corporation (SLNG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the supply and use of liquefied bio-methane as a marine fuel in Singapore. The agreement was signed by Ang Wee Keong, CEO of MPA; Bo Wegener, CEO of CMA CGM for Asia Pacific; and Leong Wei Hung, CEO of SLNG, on 14 October 2026 according to one outlet, although the announcement was released on 15 October.

The agreement combines MPA's regulatory and industry expertise, CMA CGM's shipping and logistics know-how, and SLNG's LNG infrastructure and technical capabilities. The parties will exchange knowledge and best practices to develop liquefied bio-methane supply pathways in Singapore, including its certification, provision and use as marine fuel, and will assess how existing gas infrastructure could support its delivery for maritime use.

A central focus of the MoU is determining how to properly account for the sustainability attributes and greenhouse gas emission savings of bio-methane when blended with natural gas in shared infrastructure. To validate these criteria under real operating conditions, the parties will carry out pilots and trials whose results are intended to lay the groundwork for developing liquefied bio-methane bunkering capabilities in Singapore.

Ang Wee Keong noted that LNG is already an established marine fuel in Singapore and that the aim now is to explore lower-emission variants supported by existing infrastructure. Bo Wegener stated that decarbonizing shipping requires collective action from the entire maritime ecosystem and credible energy pathways that can be deployed at scale. For his part, Leong Wei Hung highlighted that SLNG is one of the first LNG terminals in the region certified under the ISCC EU scheme to handle liquefied bio-methane.

The announcement in Singapore came a day after CMA CGM and French energy group ENGIE unveiled an agreement to develop biomethane production in Le Havre, which according to one analysis shows the carrier is expanding its decarbonization efforts across the entire fuel supply chain, from production in Europe to eventual supply and bunkering in Asia. In addition, SLNG had already obtained ISCC EU certification for bio-LNG storage, regasification, bunkering and transport services, and on 9 October had announced, together with Shell, the first import into Singapore of a certified bio-LNG cargo, as well as the start of construction on a third berth at its Jurong Island terminal.

The memorandum is exploratory in nature and does not include supply volumes, fuel pricing, investment commitments or a commercial start date. According to the published analysis, the parties also did not disclose a specific lifecycle emissions reduction figure for the proposed supply pathway, meaning operational trials and further agreements are still needed to establish a scalable service, in a context where cost, availability and competition from other sectors for biomethane remain obstacles flagged by earlier studies.