German politicians discussed the plan behind closed doors on Thursday with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Economy Minister Robert Habeck, insiders from four organizations that attended said.
Under the plan, Germany wants to connect a pipeline to the existing gas infrastructure in Lubmin, which will allow LNG to be transported from 2024, Habeck said. Lubmin is the central point where the Nord Stream gas pipelines converge and terminate.
More independence
Germany, which is also Europe’s largest economy, has long since restored and improved energy security. Especially since the war in Ukraine has caused the biggest energy crisis ever; Russia promptly turned off the gas tap, on which Germany was heavily dependent. A gas pipeline also exploded later, which turned out to be sabotage.
So now Germany is looking to LNG to close the energy supply gap. And this is more necessary than ever, because Germany’s nuclear power plants were decommissioned last month. Germany has now opened three floating LNG terminals, with the possibility of adding more. However, those plans have been met with loud protests from local protesters regarding the environmental impact. Legal proceedings are also being considered if the Germans start using the terminal in the Baltic states.