Strategic Agreement between Total and CMA CGM on Liquefied Natural Gas Fuel Supply

Total and CMA CGM have signed an agreement covering the supply of around 300,000 tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) a year for 10 years starting in 2020. This unprecedented volume in the history of LNG bunker will fuel CMA CGM‘s nine newbuild container ships, scheduled for delivery beginning 2020 onwards.

CMA CGM, the first shipping company in the world to equip its giant container ships (capacity of 22,000 TEUs [1] ) with LNG propulsion, has selected Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions, the Total affiliate responsible for marketing marine fuels worldwide, for these future supply operations. In February 2017, CMA CGM and Total already signed a cooperation agreement to examine the most environmentally responsible propulsion solutions to meet the International Maritime Organization’s 2020 implementation date for new sulfur regulations. By selecting LNG as a fuel today, CMA CGM is opting for a solution that will outperform the sulfur cap of 0.5% required in 2020.

Under this agreement, Total will provide a tailor-made solution for LNG supply. The Group is currently considering chartering on long-term basis a LNG bunkering vessel that would not only deliver fuel to CMA CGM in Europe, but also to other customers in the same region. The new supply chains created would lead to a wider use of LNG, especially in other shipping sectors, to achieve even greater and ambitious environmental responsibility. Committed for many years to reducing its energy footprint to protect the environment, oceans and biodiversity, CMA CGM has already reduced its carbon emissions per container transported per kilometer by 50% between 2005 and 2015. It has now introduced a far-reaching plan for a further 30% reduction by 2025.

In addition, both companies reached an agreement in principle on the potential supply of lubricants for the nine newbuilds, giving CMA CGM access to Total Lubmarine’s innovative products, technical expertise and global distribution network.

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