Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - North Rhine-Westphalia's Europe Minister Nathanael Liminski is calling for a stronger western orientation in German energy policy in view of the gas crisis. "When it comes to securing the energy supply, the federal government is concentrating too one-sidedly on northern Germany and neglecting the great potential that our neighbors in the west offer," said Liminski, who is also head of the state chancellery, the German press agency.
"Germany must include the entire North Sea coast, including Belgium and the Netherlands, in its strategic orientation," demanded the CDU politician in the direction of the federal government. The NRW state government is continuously coordinating with the governments of these two countries in order to increase the supply quantities and to set the course for the supply of hydrogen.
According to the information, an expansion of the Zeelink pipeline on the Belgian side is under discussion. It connects the liquid gas terminal in Zeebrugge with Westmünsterland. The pipeline is designed for an average of 22 million cubic meters per year. Due to a temporarily higher demand, Belgium supplies well over 30 million cubic meters a year. With the expansion of 48 kilometers on the Belgian side, the capacity could increase to a permanent 34 million cubic meters.
The expanded pipeline could also be used to import hydrogen and thus represent an important building block towards the climate-neutral industrial region of NRW.
"We are committed to creating the necessary conditions on the German side. This includes a corresponding adjustment of the network development plan in the coming year," said the minister, adding: "In view of the urgency, we have asked the federal government to Immediate measure to have the Federal Network Agency increase the long-term basic capacities and thus enable corresponding tenders at short notice."
The new import terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Wilhelmshaven will go into operation on Saturday. The first freighter, which only transports LNG, is expected in mid-January. The construction of the terminal, which was completed in just a few months, is part of Germany's efforts to become independent of gas supplies from Russia.
