Lower Saxony is pushing for rapid operation of the LNG terminal in Stade!

Lower Saxony is pushing for rapid operation of the LNG terminal in Stade!

Something is brewing in Lower Saxony: The planned LNG terminal in Stade is finally set to start regular operations, and the anticipation is great. Economics Minister Grant Hendrik Tonne emphasizes the importance of the terminal for future energy supply. Right now, Germany needs a reliable source of liquid gas in order to reduce its dependence on Russian natural gas imports. The first steps have already been taken with the support of the federal and state governments, but we are still facing a deadlock that should be ended as quickly as possible.

As the NDR reported that the liquid gas pier in Stade is largely finished. The grand opening of the floating terminal, which was designed as a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU), is planned for the end of 2023. But unfortunately the responsibility lies with Lower Saxony's government and many hurdles still have to be overcome.

Current challenges

In fact, there are some tricky problems to solve. The Minister of Economic Affairs emphasizes that the disputes between the state operator Deutsche Energy Terminal and the Hamburg consortium Hanseatic Energy Hub are driving the delays. The transfer of the special ship “Energos Force”, which was supposed to act as a verifiable floating terminal since March 2024, has also stalled. Instead, the ship is currently serving in the Mediterranean.

The Wikipedia further states that the completion of the floating terminal and the construction of a stationary terminal are planned by 2027 at the latest. In total, these plants are expected to provide a capacity of up to 13.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, which covers around 15% of Germany's total gas needs. These investments of around one billion euros are urgently needed to secure long-term energy supplies.

Acceleration is what matters

The IHK Elbe-Weser has therefore called for more speed. They see the uncertainty caused by the delays and demand clear statements from the federal government and companies. “There is something going on here,” says Tonne, underlining how crucial an agreement is in this situation. Discussions between the Federal Ministry of Economics and the responsible companies are already underway, but the patience of everyone involved is being tested.

The LNG Acceleration Act, which came into force on June 1, 2022, was intended to help shorten the approval process. However, it remains to be seen whether the measures chosen will be enough to end the impasse. The Liquefied gas Experts emphasize that the expansion of the LNG terminals is essential due to the geopolitical situation and the dependence on fossil energy sources in order to guarantee supplies in the future and thus to respond adequately to the challenges of the war in Ukraine.

Overall, it remains to be hoped that the difficulties will soon be resolved and that Lower Saxony will demonstrate a good hand in energy policy in order to set the course for renewable energies and independence from fossil fuels in a timely manner. After all, it's not just about economic interests, but also about ecological and social responsibility for future generations.