Rivière-du-Loup joins the Blue Road, a natural gas network for heavy-transport vehicles

Rivière-du-Loup, April 28, 2016 – SÉMER, in collaboration with the City of Rivière-du-Loup and Gaz Métro Transport Solutions (GMTS), a subsidiary of Gaz Métro Limited Partnership, is proud to announce the installation of a new liquefied natural gas refueling station on the Blue Road, a network of natural gas stations. This new station, located at Carrefour du Camion R.D.L, will enable the City of Rivière-du-Loup to become a strategic point for transport companies wanting to use natural gas as a fuel.

For the president of SÉMER, Michel Lagacé, this is "an important step, because these facilities are part of the development of an inspiring and promising partnership with such a major player as GMTS. Ultimately, the entire region will benefit."

As for GMTS, the company is "thrilled to see a new destination added to the seven existing stations on the Blue Road, which enables transport companies to operate with a more eco-friendly fuel. Furthermore, it will enable transport companies that already use liquefied natural gas, as well as those wanting to begin using it, to travel east toward Gaspésie or New Brunswick or west toward Montréal," notes Sylvain Langis, Director, Business Development, GMTS. As a result, the residents and businesses in the Rivière-du-Loup region will also benefit from the advantages provided by natural gas in the heavy transport industry.

An important agreement

The parties have agreed that as soon as the various tests necessary are conclusive, the refueling station's tank will be filled with the biomethane produced by SÉMER.

SÉMER expects to produce approximately 3.5 million diesel-equivalent litres of liquefied biomethane at its plant, from which will be drawn the amounts agreed on for the station, and this renewable natural gas will eventually make up 100% of the station's supply.

"This agreement is important for us," notes Mr. Lagacé, "because it provides us with a solid, highly reliable business foundation that makes it possible to look confidently to the future to take maximum advantage of all of the plant's production potential."

For Rivière-du-Loup's mayor, Gaétan Gamache, "this agreement is wonderful major news worth celebrating. And these refueling facilities give even more tangible meaning to the entire strategy of making biomethane a key sector for Rivière-du-Loup."

Sustainable development as a value

Mayor Gaétan Gamache said he is "proud to make sustainable development a true priority and not just a slogan. We intentionally chose to invest in biomethanization and have several good reasons for doing so: from an environmental perspective, on the one hand, to decrease the volumes sent to the engineered landfill, in particular. But also because it is an excellent business decision. We chose to invest a lot of money and energy in biomethanization because we believe in it. And events are proving us right. We are extremely pleased to participate so concretely in the deployment of liquefied biomethane. It is a viable, responsible and profitable solution."

About

Société d'économie mixte d'énergie renouvelable (SÉMER)

SÉMER is a semi-public renewable energy company in the Rivière-du-Loup region that designed and operates the Rivière-du-Loup biomethanization plant. This company is the result of the partnership between the RCM of Rivière-du-Loup, the City of Rivière-du-Loup and Terix Envirogaz Inc.

Gaz Métro Transport Solutions

Gaz Métro Transport Solutions (GMTS), a subsidiary of Gaz Métro, was created in 2010 to encourage the transportation industry to switch to natural gas, a cleaner alternative to diesel. GMTS's mandate is to develop the market for compressed and liquefied natural gas as a fuel. Natural gas is a more economical and environmentally friendly choice, with enormous potential for the transportation industry from a commercial standpoint.

With more than $7 billion in assets, Gaz Métro is a leading energy provider. It is the largest natural gas distribution company in Quebec, where its network of over 10,000 km of underground pipelines serves more than 300 municipalities and more than 200,000 customers. Gaz Métro is also present in Vermont, producing electricity and distributing electricity and natural gas to meet the needs of more than 310,000 customers. Gaz Métro is actively involved in the development and operation of innovative, promising energy projects, including natural gas as fuel, liquefied natural gas as a replacement for higher emission-producing energies, wind power and biomethane. Gaz Métro is a major energy sector player that takes the lead in responding to the needs of its customers, regions and municipalities, local organizations and communities while also satisfying the expectations of its Partners (Gaz Métro inc. and Valener) and employees.

Information:

David Lemelin, Director
Communcations Department
City of Rivière-du-Loup
418 867-6706

Maude Hébert-Chaput
Advisor
Public Affairs and Communications
Gaz Métro