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LPG tanker
Photo: E.on Ruhrgas / dpa
The Federal Ministry of Economics is planning a large "safety buffer" when expanding the import infrastructure for liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The import capacity of the currently planned floating and fixed terminals on the German coasts significantly exceed the expected demand in the coming years, according to documents published on Friday.
The ministry justified this with the "possible loss of import capacities due to accidents, sabotage or other exogenous events".
Germany has been getting most of its natural gas from Norway since Russia stopped supplying it, the ministry said.
The planned security buffer is now to be understood “in particular as a safeguard against the loss of Norwegian imports”.
The Ministry also refers to the supply of the European partners: "In addition to covering Germany's own natural gas requirements, the Federal Government assumes that the partial or complete failure of Russian pipeline gas deliveries will also mean that various countries in Central and Eastern Europe will increasingly rely on the import of natural gas Natural gas will be dependent on Germany.« Hungary and Austria are currently still getting Russian gas via pipelines through the Ukraine.
Environmental and climate protectionists have long criticized the LNG plans of Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) as oversized.
The German Environmental Aid (DUH) now sees itself confirmed in this criticism.
Habeck violates "every budgetary caution and scientific recommendations," said DUH Managing Director Sascha Müller-Kraenner.
»The climate goals are being jeopardized by these new large-scale investments in fossil fuels.«
"Minister Habeck finally admits that his plans have overshot the mark," declared Left MP Victor Perli.
»An LNG terminal emergency brake is now needed to limit the exploding costs for the public sector and to protect the climate.«
"Russia's attack on Ukraine made us realize how dangerous one-sided dependencies are and that they cost us something," Habeck said.
Germany continues to consistently focus on savings and the expansion of renewable energies, but also needs its own infrastructure for LNG.
"We base our planning on clear principles: we price in risks, plan with safety buffers as a precaution, create flexibility and act in European solidarity," explained Habeck.
ssu/AFP