Germany to fast-track first LNG terminal to lessen dependence on Russia

With Russia's invasion of Ukraine and massive German reliance on gas imports from Russian as a backdrop, the German government is looking to speed up development of the country's first LNG terminal.

PHOTO: A view of Brunsbüttel port in Germany. Brunsbüttel Ports

German lender KfW, Dutch energy infrastructure company Gasunie and German utility company RWE now seeks to build a planned 8 billion cbm capacity regasification LNG terminal in Brunsbüttel “as quickly as possible”.

“Here, we need to reduce our dependence on imports from Russia as quickly as possible; Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is now making this imperative,” said Germany’s minister for economic affairs and climate action Robert Habeck.

LNG will serve as a transition fuel in Germany’s journey towards climate neutrality. The terminal will eventually be refitted to process green hydrogen and its derivatives such as ammonia, says RWE.

Germany halted the approval of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia on 22 February, after Russia recognised two breakaway regions in Ukraine, and later invaded the country.

The LNG terminal in Brunsbüttel is expected to help lessen northwest Europe’s dependence on gas imports via pipelines, RWE says.

KfW will have 50% ownership of the project and Gasunie will operate the terminal.