In order to become less dependent on Russian gas, the federal government has ordered four floating liquid gas terminals. The location for two has already been decided: Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbüttel. The plans in Lubmin are also taking shape. Chancellor Scholz is optimistic.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz is optimistic that it will be possible to land liquid gas in the Baltic Sea port of Lubmin in a few months. "I am very confident that we will get good results there," said Scholz in Berlin after a meeting with the state cabinet of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
"Our goal is to get as much as possible by the turn of the year or a little later, so that we can quickly get gas from wherever we are." It's about becoming less dependent on Russian gas. Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig referred to joint audits by the Federal Ministry of Economics and the State Ministry of Energy. It is also being checked whether enough oil can be supplied by pipeline from the port of Rostock for the continued operation of the Schwedt refinery or whether the capacity can be expanded.
The Federal Network Agency had previously spoken out in favor of a floating liquid gas terminal in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. "A floating terminal off Lubmin is being examined, and clarifying talks are currently underway," said agency boss Klaus Müller a few days ago. He emphasized: "We also need enough pipeline capacity in the hinterland to be able to bring enough gas from the coast to southern Germany." The Nord Stream infrastructure could possibly be used in Lubmin in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. "Nautical conditions still have to be clarified. The Baltic Sea isn't as deep as the port in Wilhelmshaven. And the gas has to come from the ship to shore - with new pipes or with the existing ones."
In total, the federal government has ordered four floating liquefied gas terminals, and the location for two has already been decided: Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbüttel. "I expect that they will be available next winter. They can be used to import around 50 terawatt hours of gas each year, which is around five percent of gas consumption in Germany," explained Müller.
Pipelines go west and south from Lubmin on land - to the Czech Republic. The Nord Stream 1 pipeline through the Baltic Sea for Russian natural gas ends in Lubmin. The Nord Stream 2, which was not commissioned, also lands in Lubmin. A disadvantage of Lubmin for liquid gas transport is that the Baltic Sea is relatively flat there.
