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Valerie Ahrens

Global Head of Methanol and Strategic Relationships Burando Energies

Valerie Ahrens serves as Global Head of Methanol and Strategic Relationships at Burando Energies, where she leads the company’s global methanol strategy, sustainable fuel expansion, and strategic industry partnerships.

Valerie brings more than three decades of international leadership experience across the energy, trading, shipping, and bunkering sectors. She spent over 30 years with Shell and Shell Trading & Shipping, where she held several senior leadership positions across Europe and global markets, including Head of Strategy for Shell Energy Europe & Environmental Products, General Manager for Operational Excellence & Retail Network Delivery Europe/South Africa, Commercial Shipping Manager, Supply Operations Manager, and Marine & Aviation Business Development Manager.

Her experience spans commercial shipping, energy strategy, supply chain optimization, carbon markets, operational excellence, and global fuel logistics. Prior to joining Burando Energies, Valerie served as Senior Director for Alternative Fuels and Carbon Markets at Bunker Holding A/S, where she played a key role in advancing sustainable marine fuel strategies and future fuel infrastructure. She also served on the Board of Directors of Bunker One LNG. She currently also serves as a Non-Executive Director of KHIMOD, a French company specializing in e-methanol and e-kerosene production.

At Burando Energies, Valerie is focused on expanding the company’s sustainable fuels portfolio, with a strong emphasis on methanol, while strengthening strategic alliances across global maritime and energy markets to support the decarbonization of the shipping industry.


2026 Event Agenda Sessions

Future Fuels and Fleet Strategy: What Comes Next?

This session explores the competing future fuel pathways facing shipping – from low-sulphur fuels and LNG to methanol, ammonia and hydrogen – and why no single solution is yet dominant. It examines how scale, regulation and infrastructure are shaping choices, and what ports, carriers and shippers can realistically prepare for now across infrastructure, safety, cost and fleet strategy while long-term uncertainty remains.

Thursday 18 June 12:00 - 12:45 Breakbulk Live Stage

Add to calendar 06/18/2026 12:00 06/18/2026 12:45 Future Fuels and Fleet Strategy: What Comes Next?

This session explores the competing future fuel pathways facing shipping – from low-sulphur fuels and LNG to methanol, ammonia and hydrogen – and why no single solution is yet dominant. It examines how scale, regulation and infrastructure are shaping choices, and what ports, carriers and shippers can realistically prepare for now across infrastructure, safety, cost and fleet strategy while long-term uncertainty remains.

Breakbulk Live Stage Europe/London