GLNG: Germany eyes fourth-highest global LNG import capacity by 2030

Germany is planning to top 70mn tonnes per year (tpy) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) import capacity by the end of the decade, Argus Media reports citing documents from the German economic ministry (BMWK) and planning applications from German multinational energy utility RWE. The ambitious target would represent a more than twofold increase from its current import capacity and catapult it into fourth spot globally, trailing only China, Japan and South Korea.

For decades Germany had been dependent on cheap Russian gas. In 2021, it sourced from Russia around 55% of the 96bn cubic metres it consumed. But following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Germany sought to wean itself off Russian gas as soon as possible and immediately embraced floating LNG (FLNG) terminals for their speed of construction as the best near-term solution. In the meantime, it also kept an eye on the long term with the development of onshore terminals at Stade, Brunsbuettel and Wilhelmshaven, which are all slated to come online before 2030.

With floating storage regasification units (FSRUs) typically taking as little as 18 to 24 months to construct, Germany has earmarked funds to build 10 FSRUs. Two will be located at Wilhelmshaven, one at Brunsbuettel, one at Stade, and Lubmin will host six, which could make it the biggest LNG import cluster on the continent.