The three planned permanent LNG terminals are angry with environmentalists: They are not compatible with the climate goals and are oversized. A study by the Ministry of Economics underlines the latter point: According to this, a fixed terminal and other floating facilities are completely sufficient.
According to media reports, fewer import terminals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) are required than currently planned to secure the supply of natural gas. This was the result of a study commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Economics but not yet published, reported the ARD magazine “Fakt” and the specialist information service “Table.Media”. According to this, seven to eight floating terminals and one fixed one would be more than enough. So far, three permanent terminals are planned.
According to the media, the study, which was prepared by the Energy Economics Institute in Cologne (EWI), calculated three scenarios for different levels of demand for natural gas. Result: In all scenarios, the gas storage facilities could be 100 percent filled in the summer over the next two years, even in particularly cold winters.
The German Environmental Aid (DUH) sees this as confirmation of its criticism of the federal government’s LNG plans. “The EWI analysis clearly shows that the federal government is planning massive LNG overcapacities,” explained DUH Managing Director Sascha Müller-Kraenner. Environmental and climate protectionists criticize the plans, especially for fixed terminals in Lubmin, Stade and Wilhelmshaven, as oversized and incompatible with German climate targets.
According to “FAKT” and “Table.Media”, the EWI study confirms this point: Two of the three scenarios considered assume that the German climate protection goals cannot be achieved with such high gas consumption.
The Ministry of Economics had commissioned the analysis in order to present an overall concept for the LNG expansion. The Budget Committee of the Bundestag had requested this in order to decide on the release of further funds. According to the reports, the ministry missed the deadline of February 15. Apparently there are disputes within the federal government about the necessary LNG capacities, the DUH suspected.