Vitol wades into German gas-for-transport market

Dutch energy company and commodity trader Vitol said September 28 that it purchased a majority stake in a leading gas-for-transport company working in the German market.

For an undisclosed sum, Vitol said it acquired a majority share in Germany’s Liquind GmbH, a company that already has a network of 15 outlets supplying LNG to the German trucking industry.

In the future, Liquind expects to cater to an emerging market for biogas as a road transportation fuel. Alternate forms of gas, Vitol said, are expected to play a greater role in the European trucking sector as the industry looks to a greener future.

“We are delighted to be investing in one of Europe’s leading gas-for-transport companies and working alongside management to extend Liquind’s footprint and offering,” Vitol CEO Russel Hardy said.

Liquind could have as many as 100 stations addressing regional demand for LNG in service within the next five years. In total, there were 46 LNG filling stations in Germany at the end of 2020, though that had increased to 60 by March.

Sales of LNG in heavy transport tripled in Germany last year, rising from 14,550 metric tons to almost 48,000 mt, saving 36,500 mt of CO₂ emissions.