Little interest: LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven failed

Terminals for liquefied gas are to defuse the dispute with the USA over the pipeline project. But now the Uniper Group is putting its plans for such an LNG project up for grabs. The federal government is relaxed and refers to projects in other places.

For the time being, no terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be built in Wilhelmshaven. The project company LTeW (LNG Terminalgesellschaft Wilhelmshaven) is reviewing the previous plans, as the booking intentions of those interested in continuing the project in the current form are not sufficient, announced the energy company Uniper. This is also seen as a setback for the German government, which promised the USA to expand the LNG infrastructure in the dispute over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

The Federal Ministry of Economics pointed out that it had been emphasized from the start that the LNG plans were private-sector initiatives. The infrastructure expansion is pushed forward by the companies when they see a need for it. In addition, only one of a total of four LNG projects has so far been canceled. There are similar LNG plans in Brunsbüttel, Stade and Rostock.

Government anticipates continued pressure

LNG can be used as a fuel for ships and heavy trucks. Above all, however, it is an industrial energy source and can also be fed into the gas network. "Many companies currently do not want to be bound by long-term contracts," said Oliver Giese from Uniper. The project must be "economically predictable".

The US government is urging Europe and Germany to buy more American LNG gas. In the dispute over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which Washington had rejected, the German government argued that the expansion of the LNG terminals would prevent Germany from becoming too dependent on Russian gas. Even with a possible change of government in Washington, it is expected that the political pressure on the Baltic Sea pipeline project will remain.

The terminal company, which is wholly owned by Uniper, is now considering new options for using the Wilhelmshaven site as an import port for environmentally friendly gas. In the long term, the direct import of hydrogen is also an option. "All concepts must meet the same tough economic criteria," emphasized Uniper boss Andreas Schierenbeck.