The President of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, fears for the security of the gas supply in Germany without the construction of additional liquid gas terminals. In the event of “unfavorable conditions for gas consumption and procurement due to low temperatures” and a complete failure of the remaining Russian deliveries via Ukraine to Europe, there could otherwise be a gas shortage at the beginning of 2024, Müller told the newspapers of the Funke media group (Tuesday editions). Therefore, additional LNG terminals are needed – also in East Germany, he emphasized.
The President of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, fears for the security of the gas supply in Germany without the construction of additional liquid gas terminals. In the event of “unfavorable conditions for gas consumption and procurement due to low temperatures” and a complete failure of the remaining Russian deliveries via Ukraine to Europe, there could otherwise be a gas shortage at the beginning of 2024, Müller told the newspapers of the Funke media group (Tuesday editions). Therefore, additional LNG terminals are needed – also in East Germany, he emphasized.
For the removal of the gas quantities, it makes sense to also use the existing lines at Lubmin and not just concentrate on expanding the LNG infrastructure in north-west Germany, said the head of the network agency.
On Monday, the Federal Ministry of Economics submitted an amendment to the LNG Acceleration Act (LNGG) to the departmental vote. Among other things, this also envisages the construction of a liquid gas terminal in the seaport of Mukran on the island of Rügen.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Economics Minister Reinhard Meyer (SPD) had signaled approval on Friday during a visit by Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) to Rügen. Locally, however, there is massive resistance.
Environmentalists, local politicians on Rügen and the island’s tourism sector are opposed to the expansion plans. They fear impacts on the ecosystem and increased shipping traffic. Climate protectors also criticize the federal government’s LNG plans as oversized and incompatible with the Climate Protection Act.
The Federal Ministry of Economics said on Monday that the new plans in terms of capacity and environmental impact were significantly smaller than originally planned. It is only planned with two instead of three to four floating terminals; the Mukran port location has significantly less severe environmental impact than the offshore alternative.