Brunsbuettel JV secures LNG capacity

German LNG Terminal GmbH, which is being run by a partnership comprising N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie, Oiltanking GmbH and Royal Vopak N.V., did not name the organisation but said an agreement on the commitment of a substantial part of the terminal capacity had been made, while negotiations with other interested parties are ongoing. German LNG Terminal will apply for permits with a total terminal capacity of 8 bcma.

Rolf Brouwer, managing director of German LNG Terminal GmbH, commented: ”German LNG Terminal is strongly moving forward. This additional commercial agreement demonstrates that the market has confidence in the prospects of LNG in Germany.

“The added value of the proposed multi-services terminal we offer to the market has been recognised and adopted by the global LNG community. The German federal government has clearly recognised the benefits of LNG and, accordingly, has stipulated in its coalition treaty to develop LNG infrastructure in Germany.”

Ongoing preparations

Preparations for the terminal’s permitting approval process are ongoing. At the end of January, a “scoping meeting” took place with German LNG Terminal to discuss the environmental impact assessment including water and emissions legislation.

Obtaining construction approval for the planned LNG terminal is one of the conditions for being able to make the final investment decision in late 2019. Construction work will then start in 2020 with the terminal due to be fully operational by the end of 2022.

According to Reuters, German economy minister Peter Altmaier is confident that LNG terminals will be built at two of the three sites under consideration – Brunsbuettel, Stade and Wilhelmshaven, the latter where Uniper SE and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd will build a FSRU.

“All three projects are (being) carefully considered and examined,” he said. “I am quite optimistic that at least two of the terminals will be realised within a very foreseeable period of time.”