Germany’s second floating natural gas liquefaction terminal in Lubmin, in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, began operations this Saturday at a ceremony attended by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
«We are going to make it through this winter. Everyone is aware of it at home. The gas supply has not been affected,» Scholz emphasized in an optimistic speech.
«There has been no economic crisis in Germany either,» Scholz added before mentioning the million-dollar aid programs and the rapid construction of gas infrastructure to secure supplies after the estrangement from Russia. «The price of gas on the world markets is also falling here in Europe, Germany included,» he stressed.
Scholz visited the terminal, the second after the Wilhelmshaven terminal was commissioned in December, a vessel of almost 300 meters in length, the ‘Höegh Esperanza’, anchored permanently.
These floating terminals are intended to make up for Germany’s natural gas deficit by importing from abroad following the crisis with Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.
Three other regasification plants should be operational by the end of the year in Brunsbuettel (Schleswig-Holstein) and Stade (Lower Saxony), in addition to another one also located in Wilhelmshaven.
In total, they will provide about 5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, still far from the almost 60 billion cubic meters provided by Russia in 2021. Scholz approved the construction of the plants on February 27, three days after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the country has reserves of 90 percent of its total capacity thanks in part to reduced consumption.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
