Germany completes construction of first floating LNG terminal in record time
The German government inaugurated Wilhelmshaven’s LNG floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) today - only six months after the project was fast-tracked.
PHOTO: Germany's Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport and Construction Olaf Lies (middle) inaugurates Wilhelmshaven’s floating LNG terminal. Niedersachsen Ports
Within days of Russia invading Ukraine in late February, German energy firm Uniper announced plans to speed up construction of the floating LNG import terminal in Wilhelmshaven. The terminal was later approved by various German authorities in May.
Uniper expects that the terminal will start receiving LNG cargoes from next month onwards.
The German government says Wilhelmshaven’s LNG terminal will play a vital role in ensuring a steady supply of LNG to the country as it looks to wean itself off Russian energy imports.
The terminal can handle up to 7.5 billion cbm/year of natural gas, which is still far shy of meeting Germany's import demand.
Germany imported nearly 90 billion cbm of natural gas in 2021, of which 55% came from Russia, Uniper said earlier this year.
By Nithin Chandran
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