Dispute before opening
Habeck defends LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven
12/17/2022 9:32 am
The first German liquid gas plant in Wilhelmshaven is about to open. While Economics Minister Habeck speaks of a “milestone” in the energy crisis, environmentalists fear overcapacities in gas. Habeck calls the accusation of endangering climate goals simply “wrong”.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck sees the opening of the first German liquid gas terminal this Saturday in Wilhelmshaven as a milestone in overcoming the energy crisis. “The fact that the new import terminal starts in Wilhelmshaven is a very decisive step for the security of supply in Germany,” Habeck told the newspapers of the Funke media group. “Further terminals in Brunsbüttel and Lubmin will soon follow, also for this winter.”
The liquid gas terminal will be opened on Saturday morning in the presence of Habeck, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Finance Minister Christian Lindner. Around six percent of Germany’s gas requirements are to be fed into the grid via the terminal each year. Habeck continued to call for economy in gas consumption. Germany is “making good progress overall. But of course we’re not done yet,” he said. “It remains important to be careful with the scarce commodity gas, even when it’s cold.”
Environmentalists fear gas overcapacity
The economics minister rejected the accusation by climate protection groups that Germany was creating overcapacity for gas and was blocking the way to climate targets. “With the floating terminals now firmly planned, next winter 23/24 we are approaching the previous Russian gas volumes, but we are not there yet,” he said. “That’s not overcapacity, it’s necessary, especially when you think about our European neighbors. And we have to.” In addition, the switch to hydrogen is also being planned for the line infrastructure, Habeck emphasized. In this respect, the accusation is “wrong”.
In an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, Scholz also confirmed the need for the terminal. He emphasized that he would press ahead with the construction of further LNG terminals next year and hoped for further supply contracts. “The federal government is in constant contact with the gas importers and is also promoting the conclusion of longer-term contracts,” he said. Gas from Norway, the USA, the Gulf region and the Netherlands will also secure Germany’s supply next winter. “We can assume that, like this year, if nothing unforeseen happens,” says Scholz. For this year’s winter he had already assured several times that there would probably be no shortage.
“Completely new infrastructure in Germany”
Habeck continued to defend the cost increases at the liquid gas terminals. “We are building a completely new infrastructure in Germany with the LNG terminals. These terminals are not important for Germany, but also for the security of supply in Europe,” he said. “And we’re improving the line infrastructure,” added the Green politician. “That’s money well invested, because hydrogen derivatives and hydrogen can later also be transported through these new or reinforced lines. And the costs will gradually be offset by income as the system goes into operation.”
At the same time, Habeck dampened hopes of rapidly falling energy prices. “Procuring replacements on the world market in the middle of the crisis is expensive, and it will also be a while before prices drop again, even if not to the level of 2021,” he said. “But first of all, we are dampening the extreme price increases for citizens with price brakes and other aids such as heating cost subsidies and housing allowances,” emphasized the Economics Minister. “Secondly, we are working our way out of the crisis and gradually solving the problems behind the high prices.”