Germany to launch first floating LNG terminal by late December

The first floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal off the German coast can be put into operation by the end of December.

Klaus-Dieter Maubach, CEO of the German energy company Uniper, made the remarks in a recent interview with Der Spiegel on the sidelines of the Adipec oil conference in Abu Dhabi.

“If all goes well, the LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven will be ready by Christmas,” Maubach stressed.

Nevertheless, the CEO underlined that the construction of the terminal depends on weather conditions. Maubach said that winter storms or high seas could delay project completion by several weeks.

As Der Spiegel specifies, the commissioning of a floating LNG terminal will be an important step in the "fight against impending gas shortages.” According to Uniper, it is necessary to process up to 7.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, which is 8 percent of Germany's total gas demand.

Currently, Germany is completely dependent on gas supplies through pipelines, since it lacks any LNG terminal. Along with the Uniper LNG terminal, the German company RWE also plans to supply LNG through the terminal located in Brunsbüttel by late 2022.

Germany started exploring alternative gas sources after Gazprom's gas supplies were cut off. In September, the pressure on the Nord Stream gas pipeline and the non-commissioned Nord Stream 2 significantly decreased. Gas leaks occurred in three of the four damaged gas pipeline pipes, which the parties believe was the result of sabotage.