Page 4 - GLNG Week 09 2023

GLNG COMMENTARY GLNG

Germany eyes fourth highest global

LNG import capacity by 2030

Germany was formerly the biggest market for Russian pipeline gas in Europe.

GERMANY GERMANY is planning to top 70mn tonnes per With floating storage regasification units
year (tpy) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) import (FSRUs) typically taking as little as 18 to 24
WHAT: capacity by the end of the decade, Argus Media months to construct, Germany has earmarked
Germany is seeking to reports citing documents from the German eco- funds to build 10 FSRUs. Two will be located
surpass 70mn tpy of peak nomic ministry (BMWK) and planning applica- at Wilhelmshaven, one at Brunsbuettel, one at
LNG import capacity by tions from German multinational energy utility Stade, and Lubmin will host six, which could
2030. RWE. The ambitious target would represent make it the biggest LNG import cluster on the
a more than twofold increase from its current continent.
WHY: import capacity and catapult it into fourth spot Following the passing of the LNG Accelera-
Having previously relied globally, trailing only China, Japan and South tion Act, Germany heralded a new era for infra-
on Russia for over 50% Korea. structure construction projects with policies
of its gas, Germany has For decades Germany had been dependent streamlined to turbocharge construction. As
pivoted quickly to LNG to on cheap Russian gas. In 2021, it sourced from a result, Germany was able to bring the Hoegh
fill its supply gap. Russia around 55% of the 96bn cubic metres it Esperanza FLNG terminal at the port of Wil-
consumed. But following Russia’s invasion of helmshaven online in December, just eight
WHAT NEXT: Ukraine Germany sought to wean itself off Rus- months after work began on the project.
With several sian gas as soon as possible and immediately In addition to the 5.8mm tpy Wilhelmshaven
neighbouring countries embraced floating LNG (FLNG) terminals for facility, a 3.5mn tpy FSRU facility has also already
landlocked, Germany their speed of construction as the best near-term come online at the port of Lubmin. Meanwhile,
could emerge as an LNG solution. In the meantime, it also kept an eye on the 3.1mn tpy Elbehafen FLNG terminal in
hub for the region. It also the long term with the development of onshore Brunsbuettel received its first LNG cargo from
plans to use the terminals terminals at Stade, Brunsbuettel and Wilhelms- Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in
as green hydrogen hubs haven, which are all slated to come online before mid-February.
later. 2030. And before the end of the year,

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