- Stakeholders urge the Dutch Ministry to safeguard the bio-LNG terminal route as it ensures scalable, cost-effective, and verifiable delivery of green fuels.
- Blocking this pathway would risk supply security, investments, and progress towards 2030 climate targets.
- Bio-LNG provides immediate emission reductions in heavy transport, complementing long-term zero-emission technologies.
A broad coalition of stakeholders in maritime transport, logistics, and the green gas sector has urged the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to safeguard the bio-LNG mass balancing system. They advocate for the inclusion of the terminal route, which allows the import of green gas via the existing gas grid followed by liquefaction at LNG terminals. This pathway is highlighted as sustainable, cost-effective, verifiable, and scalable for delivering bio-LNG and e-LNG, according to safety4sea.
Risks of Blocking the Route
According to the stakeholders, blocking this route would cause significant harm, as it remains one of the few available options for immediate greenhouse gas reductions in hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy transport. Unlike other green fuels, which are still limited or unavailable, bio-LNG is ready for deployment.
If the terminal route is denied:
- The Netherlands would lose supply security, competitive pricing, and its strategic role as a sustainable fuel hub.
- Current and future investments in biomethane could disappear.
- Achieving the 2030 target of a 55% CO₂ reduction would become more difficult.
Policy Concerns
While neighboring countries such as Germany and Belgium allow this pathway, Dutch policymakers, in their implementation of EU RED III, are planning to restrict it. Present policies are primarily directed towards electrification and hydrogen, but stakeholders argue that bio-LNG should be supported as it is already available and complements, rather than competes with, zero-emission technologies.
Strategic Importance of Bio-LNG
Bio-LNG is positioned as an alternative to fossil diesel and plays a crucial role in accelerating the energy transition of heavy-duty transport and maritime sectors. Given the strategic importance of Dutch ports in international logistics, the exclusion of the terminal route could undermine the country’s decarbonization leadership.
Call to Action
Stakeholders emphasize that the lack of institutional support for this pathway threatens the financial viability of the bio-LNG value chain, including the operations of SMEs committed to greener transport. They request that the Renewable Energy for Transport Regulation be amended to include the terminal route in line with European legislation, without imposing national restrictions.
Such an amendment is essential for:
- Preserving viable business models and ensuring investment continuity.
- Enabling immediate and scalable emission reductions in heavy transport.
- Offering regulatory predictability to maintain investor confidence and attract private capital.
The sector has expressed willingness to engage in joint fact-finding and propose compliant solutions, including robust certification and monitoring mechanisms, to align with RED III objectives.
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Source: safety4sea
