Singapore’s bio-LNG supplier comes on board SEA-LNG coalition

SEA-LNG, a multi-sector industry coalition promoting LNG as a marine fuel, has welcomed a new member.

Singapore-headquartered bio-LNG supplier Straits Bio-LNG has joined the coalition to make ‘real strides’ in promoting LNG as a practical solution for shipping decarbonization.

Straits Bio-LNG is currently in the advanced stage of testing breaking down Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) by an established biological process with high enzyme concentration in its R&D facility in Malaysia.

The company is also expected to play ‘a critical role’ in furthering bio-LNG expansion at scale to meet the demand.

Yiyong He, Director at Straits Bio-LNG, said: “We’re firmly convinced in the viability of the LNG pathway to decarbonise the shipping industry. With its very low carbon intensity and improving commerciality, liquified biomethane will be a critical piece of the puzzle for decarbonising the sector. By joining SEA-LNG, we’re proud to be part of a collection of first movers making real strides to make the LNG pathway a tangible reality today.”

LNG bunkering volumes have grown significantly in key bunkering hubs as more LNG-fueled vessels have entered into operation. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) saw a four-fold increase in 2024 to almost 340,000 tonnes. Owning to the growing demand, Straits Bio-LNG declared that 250,000 tonnes of bio-LNG will be available yearly in response.

Peter Keller, Chairman of SEA-LNG, added: “The Port of Singapore is the largest global bunkering hub. As seen in our View from the Bridge report, 2024 saw record growth in LNG and liquified biomethane bunkering, but we need more fuel to meet upcoming demand. The use of liquefied biomethane as a marine fuel can reduce GHG emissions by up to 80% compared to marine diesel on a full well-to-wake basis. When produced from the anaerobic digestion of waste materials, such as manure, POME or EFB, methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere is captured, resulting in negative emissions of up to -190% compared with diesel.”

An independent study by the Maritime Energy and Sustainable Development Centre of Excellence at Nanyang Technical University in Singapore found that pure bio-LNG could cover up to 13% of the total energy demand for shipping fuels in 2050, rising to 63% for a 20% blending ratio.

The MPA recently launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) to explore scalable solutions for sea-based LNG reloading to complement the existing onshore LNG bunkering storage and jetty capacities and the supply of e/bio-methane as marine fuel in the Port of Singapore.