Yesterday, the KfW (on behalf of the German Federal Government), Gasunie (100% owned by the Dutch state), and RWE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a joint project to build a terminal for the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at Brunsbüttel. The KfW will acquire 50% of the shares in the LNG terminal for the Federal Government. Gasunie will operate the facility. 

The terminal will have an annual regasification capacity of 8 billion m³ and provide a possibility to import gas directly to the German market from regions which cannot be reached by gas pipelines. In this way, the project will improve Germany’s energy security and help north-western Europe to become less dependent on imports of gas through pipelines. The partners in the project are working to realise the venture as quickly as possible whilst complying with all the rules governing authorisations and State aid.

Going forward, the intention will be to refit the terminal so that it can process green hydrogen derivatives like ammonia. 

Minister Robert Habeck welcomes the project: “It is absolutely clear that we need to make our energy supply climate-neutral, to rigorously cut our gas consumption, and to press ahead with the expansion of renewables and the production of hydrogen. But we will need gas during the transition. Here, we need to reduce our dependence on imports from Russia as quickly as possible; Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is now making this imperative. An LNG terminal in Brunsbüttel will increase the possibilities to import gas to Germany. LNG terminals could be described as an extra by-pass for this. They help us to boost energy security in Germany and Europe. At the same time, our plans are factoring in the switch to green hydrogen and its derivatives from the very outset of the project. This also goes for the construction of hydrogen infrastructure. In this way, we are setting the course for climate neutrality and shaping the transition.” 

Sigrid Kaag, Finance Minister of the Netherlands, added: “Gasunie, the Dutch state-owned enterprise, is making an important contribution towards Europe’s gas security by building an LNG terminal in Brunsbüttel. This is a good step towards reducing dependence on imports of gas from Russia"

Click here for the press release of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.