A new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Mukran on Ruegen Island in the German Baltic Sea should be operational from the first quarter of 2024, Gascade, the pipeline firm building its onshore connection, has announced.
Suppliers have booked 4 bcm of capacity for 10 years per annum at Mukran, where the company wants to pull together two floating storage and reception units (FSRUs) for deliveries to the mainland.
Germany’s quest to increase LNG import capacity has intensified as it seeks to end reliance on Russian pipeline gas after Russia invaded Ukraine last year.
Pending the provision of fixed terminals, it is using FSRUs to help replace piped Russian gas supplies.
Three FSRUs are working at the Wilhelmshaven, Brunsbuettel and Lubmin ports after Germany arranged their charter and onshore connections. Wilhelmshaven, Mukran and Stade are due to add more ships for the 2023/24 winter.
Industry and the government are also building up terminal capacity in anticipation of increased use of hydrogen, which when produced using renewable energy can help the transition to a lower carbon economy.
