CMA CGM looks to Middle East for green fuels with Masdar partnership

The partnership aims to source, supply, and deliver green alternative fuels for CMA CGM’s dual-fuel vessels in the port of Abu Dhabi.

The supply of alternative fuels will start in 2025 and follow the incremental phase-in of the vessels until 2028.

Masdar and CMA CGM agreed to continue to discuss extending their collaboration opportunities, potentially on green hydrogen and ammonia production.

CMA CGM has set ambitions for a 30% total emission reduction by 2030, and an 80% emission reduction by 2040 making the French company to accelerate its energy transition by integrating low-carbon fuels into its energy mix.

The cooperation with Masdar is expected to facilitate the deployment of CMA CGM’s new generation of dual-fuel ships ready to use biofuels and e-fuels based on methane and methanol, of which 35 are currently in fleet and 84 in order.

While Masdar aims to produce 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.

“As a pioneer in advancing the clean energy sector and a key enabler of the UAE’s vision as a global leader in sustainability and climate action, Masdar’s ambition is to be one of the leading players in the development of green hydrogen globally,” said Mohammad Abdelqader El Ramahi, Masdar Chief Green Hydrogen Officer.

 “To CMA CGM, the importance of the energy mix lies in our desire to be at the forefront of innovation for sustainable shipping. By being ‘energy agnostic’, we firmly believe in diversifying energy sources for our ships,” commented Christine Cabau Woehrel, CMA CGM Group Executive Vice President in charge of Assets and Operations.

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“This approach enables us to explore and adopt a variety of energy solutions, whether Biomethane, E-methane, liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, electrification or other alternative fuels.”