The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Robert Habeck defends LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven

2022-12-17T07:13:10.607Z


Climate Minister Habeck sees no alternative to liquid gas terminals. They are necessary to ensure security of supply in Germany. Why energy prices remain high.


Enlarge image

Green Economics Minister Robert Habeck

Photo: Lisi Niesner / REUTERS

Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) sees the opening of Germany's first liquid gas terminal in Wilhelmshaven as a milestone in overcoming the energy crisis.

"The fact that the new import terminal is starting in Wilhelmshaven is a very decisive step for security of supply in Germany," Habeck told the newspapers of the Funke media group.

“Further terminals in Brunsbüttel and Lubmin will soon follow, also for this winter.”

Habeck also defended the project against concerns from environmentalists in the ARD “Tagesthemen” on Friday evening.

The terminal is a piece of the puzzle, but an important one and a start, he said.

Everything will be built in such a way that the climate targets are achieved, and gas consumption will also be reduced in the future.

Without these terminals, Germany could have slipped into a gas shortage.

"We are acting under the greatest pressure here to ensure security of supply in Germany," said Habeck.

The LNG terminal will be opened on Saturday morning in the presence of Habeck, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) and Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD).

Around six percent of Germany's gas requirements are to be fed into the grid via the terminal each year.

The alternative, according to Habeck, would have been a gas shortage, with the result that the German economy and public support for Ukraine would collapse.

Averting this need has absolute political priority.

Habeck continued to call for economy in gas consumption.

Germany is “making good progress overall.

But of course we're not done yet,' he said.

»It remains important to use the scarce commodity of gas carefully, even when it is cold.«

Environmental aid wants to take legal action against Terminal

The German Environmental Aid (DUH) has meanwhile announced legal action against the LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven.

For the "quick and media-effective opening of the first German LNG terminal", a hitherto "unique restriction of participation and environmental rights" was accepted, according to the environmentalists.

Among other things, the DUH is bothered by the unlimited operating license for the terminal from the Lower Saxony authorities, although the German phase-out of natural gas must already be planned in order to comply with the 1.5-degree limit.

There was also a risk of "massive overcapacity" and thus exceeding the permissible CO2 emissions in the energy sector.

Last but not least, the introduction of large quantities of biocide was permitted, but that should be prohibited.

The DUH will "enforce all of this with legal means if necessary," it said.

For all other projects, a pause for thought is also necessary, the environmentalists demanded.

"Before construction continues, all projects must be checked for their climate impacts and the federal government must submit an overall concept that ensures compliance with the climate targets."

Habeck firmly rejected the allegations.

"With the floating terminals that are now firmly planned, we will be approaching the previous Russian gas volumes next winter 23/24, but we will not reach them yet," he said.

“That's not overcapacity, it's necessary, especially when you think about our European neighbors.

And we must.”

In addition, the switch to hydrogen is also being planned for the line infrastructure, Habeck emphasized.

In this respect, the allegation is "wrong".

The minister also defended the cost increases at the liquid gas terminals.

»With the LNG terminals, we are building a completely new infrastructure in Germany.

These terminals are not only important for Germany, but also for the security of supply in Europe,” he said.

"And we're improving the line infrastructure," added the Green politician.

"That's money well invested, because hydrogen derivatives and hydrogen can later also be transported through these new or reinforced lines.

And the costs will be offset step by step with the start-up.«

“It will be a while before energy prices go down”

Habeck nevertheless dampened hopes of rapidly falling energy prices.

Obtaining a replacement on the world market in the middle of the crisis is expensive.

And it will also be a while before prices come back down, although not to 2021 levels, he said.

“But first of all we are dampening the extreme price increases for citizens with price brakes and other aids such as heating cost subsidies and housing allowances,” emphasized the Economics Minister.

»Secondly, we are working our way out of the crisis and are gradually solving the problems behind the high prices.«

kry/AFP

Source: spiegel

All business articles on 2022-12-17

You may like

News/Politics 2024-02-24T11:22:47.354Z
News/Politics 2024-02-24T11:42:57.437Z
News/Politics 2024-02-09T19:53:25.777Z
News/Politics 2024-03-16T09:45:46.174Z

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.