Germany wants to open in early 2024 a controversial LNG terminal linked to the infrastructure of Russia’s defunct Nord Stream natural gas pipeline network.
Officials discussed the plan Thursday evening during a closed-door meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Economy Minister Robert Habeck, according to representatives of four organizations who were in the room.
A “gas pipeline will feed into the existing gas infrastructure in Lubmin from spring 2024,” Habeck said, referring to the main land connection point where the inactive Nord Stream lines also terminate.
Representatives from the World Wide Fund for Nature, conservation group BUND and Environmental Action Germany confirmed the comments. A spokesman for Baltic Sea Resorts also verified Habeck’s statements.
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is trying to improve its energy security as the region recovers from a historic supply crisis in the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Russia severely curbed gas flows to the region last year, including through the Nord Stream link with Germany. This network was later rendered inoperable by a mysterious explosion.
Germany relies heavily on LNG to fill its energy supply gap, especially due to the shutdown this month of its last remaining nuclear power plants. It has opened three floating LNG terminals, with more expected. However, these plans have been met with protests from local groups over environmental concerns, with some promising legal action if the Baltic terminal goes ahead.
The government has bought idle pipes that belonged to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to build a terminal on the island of Ruegen, the Economy Ministry said on Thursday.
On Friday, a spokeswoman for the ministry said she could not confirm Habeck’s comments about the timing, but added: “According to our information, both Chancellor and Minister Habeck stressed the urgency of acting.”
The country’s gas industry also warned of supply shortages next winter.
–With the assistance of Josefine Fokuhl and Michael Nienaber.
