Green light: The early start of construction for Germany’s first liquefied natural gas terminal in Wilhelmshaven has been approved. When will the construction work start?
According to the energy group Uniper, the state trade supervisory office in Oldenburg has given the green light for the early start of construction for Germany’s first liquefied natural gas terminal in Wilhelmshaven.
“The quick granting of approval for the early start of construction shows the importance of the LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven for the state’s security of supply,” said Uniper boss Klaus-Dieter Maubach on Monday in Düsseldorf. “This is not something that can be taken for granted – above all, it shows what is possible when society, industry and politics pull together.” The official start of construction was already on Monday (July 4th).
Up to 7.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year are to be handled via the floating LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven. That corresponds to around 8.5 percent of current German gas requirements per year. The first ramming of the project took place on May 5th in the presence of Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens). The aim is for commissioning to take place in winter 2022/2023. Environmental groups expressed strong concerns about the project.
“We are very happy that things are now starting to be seen,” said Lower Saxony’s Environment and Energy Minister Olaf Lies (SPD). “We need a replacement for Russian gas as soon as possible and we in the north are ready to take responsibility for that.” At the beginning of June, Uniper submitted the application for the necessary approval and for approval of the early start under the Federal Immission Control Act to the Oldenburg Trade Inspectorate.
