Despite the protests of the population and the disagreement of the regional authorities, off the Baltic coast of Germany – to the east of the island of Rügen – the first work began as part of a project to build two new terminals for receiving liquefied natural gas (LNG). We are talking about “only reconnaissance activities” and a thorough study of the state of the sea soil, said on Sunday, March 19, a representative of the energy concern RWE. According to him, these works have been approved by the Baltic Sea Waterways and Shipping Authority and are being carried out on two special vessels.
In turn, the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the federal state of Mecklenburg – Vorpommern expressed disagreement with the start of these works and pointed out the need to wait until the end of herring spawning, because of which any work in the coastal zone is prohibited until May. In addition, the state authorities in Schwerin are pressing for the federal government to abandon plans to build LNG terminals near Rügen.
Construction of floating LNG terminals
After the start full-scale war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine German authorities have relied on the supply of liquefied natural gas to compensate cessation of Russian gas imports, and are rapidly building the appropriate infrastructure. In general, the German government expects to cover up to a third of its current gas demand winter 2023/2024 by using floating LNG terminals. To date, there are already three of them: near Wilhelmshaven in Lower Saxony, in Lubmin in Mecklenburg – Vorpommern, and also in Brunsbüttel in Schleswig-Holstein. In addition, in the city of Stade on the Lower Elbe, another berth is under construction for reception of ships with liquefied gaswhich will be completed next winter. A stationary terminal will also be built there by 2026.
The authorities of Mecklenburg – Western Pomerania, which initially supported the construction of two more terminals near Rügen – five kilometers from the seaside resort of Sellin – refuse to give official consent against the backdrop of strong resistance from the inhabitants of this island and environmentalists, calling for alternative options.
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