German utility EnBW has announced it will double its annual purchasing pledge to 6 bcm of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a terminal planned at the Elbe river port of Stade.
Germany is developing LNG import facilities to help wean itself off of Russian piped gas.
Stade, which in January received pledges by state-controlled Sefe to buy 4 bcm of LNG annually from 2027, therefore has now booked 80% of its production capacity.
Stade is backed by Belgian gas transport networks group Fluxys, Swiss investment company Partners Group, German logistics group Buss and chemicals company Dow.
Ahead of the land-based facility, a German state-funded floating LNG terminal (FSRU) is expected at Stade before the end of 2023.
It is one of six vessels at four locations that will tide German industry and consumers over until fixed terminals are built.
