ENGIE and CMA CGM join forces to invest in biomethane production in Le Havre
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- French Groups ENGIE and CMA CGM sign a framework agreement to develop a biomethane production facility in the Le Havre industrial and port area.
- From 2029, the facility, to be developed by ENGIE, will supply 7,000 tons (equivalent to 100 GWh) of biomethane annually to CMA CGM’s fleet, avoiding an estimated 23,000 tons of CO₂ emissions each year.
- This renewable fuel cuts lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by at least 67% and can be used by CMA CGM’s LNG-powered vessels without infrastructure or engine modifications.
- The project will also turn livestock waste, household biowaste and agricultural residues into digestates, which can be used as natural fertilizer by local farmers.
ENGIE Group, a major player in the energy transition, and the CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, are joining forces to develop a major biomethane production facility at the heart of the Le Havre industrial-port zone. This major logistics hub in Europe, is a strategic location for the development of new low-carbon energy solutions, particularly renewable gases, serving the maritime and industrial sectors.
ENGIE will lead the development of the project, including its technical design and permitting process. Subject to a final investment decision, the Group will then oversee the construction and operation of the facility.
Through this investment, CMA CGM is directly supporting the development of renewable fuel production to secure the energy supply needed to decarbonize its fleet. The project builds on the partnership launched by the two groups in 2021 to accelerate the energy transition.
Starting in 2029/2030, the facility will convert livestock waste, household biowaste and agricultural residues into biomethane, which will be supplied to the CMA CGM fleet through the European gas grid under a certified mass-balance system.
The process will also produce 100,000 tons of digestate, a nutrient-rich organic matter that can be used as natural fertilizer by local farmers, while 13,000 tons of biogenic CO₂ will be recovered for commercialisation, further improving the project’s emissions-reduction performance.
As a minority shareholder alongside ENGIE, CMA CGM will invest in the project through PULSE, its energy fund dedicated to innovative technologies and infrastructure that support the decarbonization of the Group’s transport and logistics activities.
Supporting ENGIE’s biomethane ambition
This project fully contributes to ENGIE’s ambition for biomethane. The Group aims to reach 10 TWh of annual biomethane production capacity in Europe by 2035, up from 1.2 TWh today. This project will directly support the achievement of this target and help scale up the development of renewable gases.
A major step forward in CMA CGM's decarbonization strategy
CMA CGM is committed to reaching Net Zero Carbon across all its activities by 2050. Its decarbonization strategy is built on two priorities:
- Reduce energy consumption through operational excellence and asset optimization.
- Increase the share of low-carbon energy by deploying the right assets and developing sustainable fuel supply chains.
By 2030, more than 200 dual-fuel vessels capable of running on biomethane, biomethanol and e-fuels will have joined the CMA CGM fleet. Biomethane can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 67% over its full life cycle compared with conventional marine fuels. It can also be used today by the Group’s LNG-powered vessels through existing LNG bunkering infrastructure.
Securing access to renewable fuels is essential to shipping’s energy transition. Through partnerships with industrial and energy leaders such as ENGIE, CMA CGM is helping to establish resilient, sustainable supply chains for low-carbon energy.
Catherine MacGregor, Chief Executive Officer of ENGIE: “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 decarbonize hard-to-electrify sectors, while strengthening energy sovereignty and the development of renewable gases.”
Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the CMA CGM Group: “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. This partnership marks an important milestone in our decarbonization strategy, that will allow us to significantly reduce carbon emissions.”
This project paves the way for further initiatives in France and across Europe, which are already under consideration.
