French industrial gases producer Air Liquide has completed the acquisition of FordonsGas, a Swedish company that distributes compressed biogas (CBG).

With revenue of around €20 million and more than 40 CBG stations, FordonsGas operates one of the largest distribution networks in Sweden for the alternative fuel.

According to Air Liquide, Sweden is one of Europe's key markets in developing sustainable mobility based on biogas. In 2009, the government launched an energy and climate policy aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% up to 2020 and eliminating the use of fossil fuels entirely in the transport sector by 2030.

The French company, which in Sweden has supplied its gas liquefaction technologies to what it says is one of the largest facilities for biogas worldwide, noted that some 50,000 vehicles in Sweden currently run on compressed natural gas.

Francois Darchis, member of Air Liquide's executive committee supervising innovation, said the acquisition of FordonsGas will allow the gases producer to be present across the biogas value chain, from production of biomethane to purification, liquefaction and distribution.