Marine fuels supplier Burando Energies has appointed Valerie Ahrens as global head of methanol and strategic relationships.

Ahrens brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across energy, trading, shipping and bunkering. She has held senior management positions at Bunker Holding, Bunker One and Shell.

Prior to joining Burando, Ahrens set up and led a dedicated division focused on new fuels and carbon markets, serving as Senior Director - Alternative fuels and carbon markets at Bunker Holding for three years.

Ahrens also previously founded a consultancy, StrategEnergy, focusing on energy transition strategy, and is currently a non-executive director at KHIMOD, a French greentech company which develops and sells solutions for the production of valuable synthetic molecules such as e-methane, e-methanol and e-kerosene.

In her new role, she will be tasked with expanding the company’s sustainable fuels portfolio, with a particular focus on methanol, while also strengthening strategic partnerships in global markets.

Ahrens said: “Thrilled to kick off a new chapter with the exceptional team at Burando. As the world is ready to accelerate energy transition to support resilience and security of supply, I am ready to make it happen, build strong partnerships, and support the decarbonisation of the maritime industry.”

"My aim is expand the sustainable fuels unit, with a focus on methanol and strengthening strategic partnerships," Ahrens added in a LinkedIn post on 2 April.

The appointment comes as interest in alternative marine fuels continues to grow, with methanol remaining one of the main options under consideration as shipowners work towards decarbonisation targets.

Burando Energies is a physical bunker supplier in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region and Hamburg.