Decarbonization News – Brussels, June 29, 2026 – Eurogas, together with 44 co-signatories, has issued a strong warning that proposed changes to EU sustainability certification rules could undermine a critical pathway for delivering renewable fuels to the maritime sector. The industry group says the revisions risk disrupting the supply of bioLNG and eLNG to ships.
The pathway in question, known as “liquefaction by equivalence,” allows biomethane and e-methane to be liquefied and supplied to ships using existing LNG infrastructure and mass-balance systems. This method has proven effective in scaling renewable fuel availability without requiring entirely new infrastructure.
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Rising Demand for Renewable Marine Fuels
BioLNG and eLNG are among the few renewable fuels currently compatible with existing LNG-fuelled vessels and terminals. Demand is increasing rapidly as shipping companies seek to comply with FuelEU Maritime regulations and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Terminal operators Fluxys and Enagás reported strong growth in bioLNG volumes in 2025.
However, proposed amendments to emissions allocation rules could assign fossil LNG supply-chain emissions to bioLNG and eLNG deliveries. Industry stakeholders argue this approach inaccurately reflects the actual climate performance of renewable gas supply chains, potentially rendering the pathway commercially unviable.
Potential Consequences
According to the coalition, such changes would reduce renewable fuel availability, raise compliance costs for ship operators, and discourage investment in biomethane and e-methane production across Europe. This could slow the decarbonization of the maritime sector at a time when scalable solutions are urgently needed.
Andreas Guth, Secretary General of Eurogas, stated: “Renewable fuels are central to the decarbonisation efforts of European shipping. Restricting a proven pathway for supplying bioLNG and eLNG under the proposed certification changes risks reducing fuel availability and penalising shipping companies that rely on these fuels to meet FuelEU Maritime requirements.”
Industry Voices Unite
Nikos Mertzanidis, Executive Director at CLIA Europe, stressed the needs of the cruise industry: “Cruise lines require secure, scalable, and cost-competitive access to renewable fuels to decarbonise their fleets. BioLNG is already being used in commercial operations using existing vessels and infrastructure. Any disruption to fuel supply could create additional challenges.”
John Cosmo Dwelle of Anew Climate Europe and Rafik Ammar of the e-NG Coalition echoed concerns, highlighting that liquefaction by equivalence is a proven, scalable solution. They called for certification rules that accurately reflect the climate benefits of renewable pathways.
Call to Action
The signatories urge the European Commission to ensure emissions calculations for bioLNG and eLNG properly represent their underlying renewable supply chains. They argue this would preserve an efficient delivery mechanism while upholding high sustainability standards.
The maritime sector possesses both vessels and ambition to decarbonize using these fuels today. Industry leaders warn that regulatory uncertainty at this stage could hinder progress toward EU climate targets and weaken Europe’s position in the global green fuels market.
As discussions continue, the outcome of this policy debate will have significant implications for renewable fuel investment, shipping decarbonization timelines, and the broader energy transition.
Source : According to a Press Release by Eurogas, June 29, 2026
