New initiative for port of Duisburg: RWE and Duisport are pioneering use of LNG

First LNG shall replace diesel fuels in port vehicles - Partnership builds mobile fuel stations and develops future utilisation concept

RWE Supply & Trading and Duisport have committed to jointly create the necessary infrastructure to use LNG (liquefied natural gas) in the Duisburg port. The goal is to develop and implement a joint and sustainable logistics concept for the provision, storage, distribution and utilisation of LNG. A space for the new LNG service station has already been chosen. The partners have previously been working together to evaluate the possible application of LNG to replace diesel fuels.

'We are happy to be working with Duisport on this innovative project. The port of Duisburg provides excellent possibilities for the use of LNG', emphasizes Andree Stracke, Member of the Executive Board of RWE Supply & Trading GmbH. 'As the biggest inland port in the world it has a perfect connection to all traffic channels.' Not only vessels, trains, port vehicles and lorries, but also the Rhein-Ruhr region's industries and dense population offer excellent opportunities including a large potential consumer base.

'With their long track record in LNG sourcing as well as building, operation and maintenance of gas supply assets, RWE is the ideal partner for this project', says Erich Staake, CEO of Duisport. 'This project is another step forward in our endeavor to permanently optimise the port of Duisburg.'

As a first step, a mobile fuel pump will be installed that can be easily relocated if needed. This pump will be used in the pilot phase to supply LNG to port vehicles (so called reach stacker and terminal towing vehicles) as well as lorries from local logistics companies. The vehicles will be converted to LNG supply and thoroughly tested in daily operations. The investment required for this first step amount to about half a million Euros.

LNG is natural gas that is liquefied by cooling it to -161°. Its volume is reduced to approximately 1/600 of natural gas volume at normal pressure. Thus, transport of big amounts of natural gas becomes possible. LNG is far more eco-friendly as emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and fine dust are lower than other fuels.