Factbox: plans for the LNG import project in Germany

FRANKFURT, Oct 25 (Reuters) – Germany is acquiring liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals as part of its drive to diversify away from Russian gas.

It leased four floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) in May, capable of importing at least 5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of sea gas per year each. Two of them should be available this year.

Wilhelmshaven will become the first LNG hub and Brunsbuettel the second, which will be developed by Uniper UN01.DE and RWE RWEG.DE respectively.

The Elbe river ports of Stade and Lubmin on the Baltic Sea will also each receive an FSRU.

Germany has also formalized the charter of a fifth floating LNG carrier for Wilhelmshaven, the Ministry of the Economy announced on October 25 for the first quarter of 2023.

WILHELMSHAVEN

Uniper received approval in August to start construction of an FSRU facility.

Later, facilities to import ammonia and set up an electrolysis plant to transform the ammonia into clean hydrogen will be set up on the site.

BRUNSBUETTEL

An FSRU at Brunsbuettel is expected to deliver gas from late 2022 or early 2023 and serve as a precursor to a fixed LNG facility.

Dutch gas network operator Gasunie, which has a 40% stake in the FSRU project, is planning two related gas pipelines.

The state bank KfW (KFW.UL) and RWE are parties to the fixed facility. Shell (SHELL) has committed to certain guaranteed purchases.

STADIUM

Project operator Hanseatic Energy Hub (HEH), which is due to receive an FSRU to enter service from the end of next year, has previously issued invitations to market participants to book regasification capacity at a hub expected land.

This could happen in 2026.

It is backed by the gas network company Fluxys (FLOW.BR)investment company Partners Group (PGHN.S)Buss logistics group and Dow chemical company (DOWN).

EnBW (EBKG.DE) engaged as a buyer.

Applications for the terminal and the port have been submitted. A final investment decision is expected next year.

LUBMIN

Operators of the state-leased FSRU to Lubmin expect it to be operational by the end of 2023.

Economy Minister Robert Habeck paid a visit on September 19 and said the government would try to source LNG from the United Arab Emirates, among other possible sources.

Reporting by Vera Eckert Editing by Jan Harvey, Jason Neely, Jane Merriman and David Goodman

Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.