Habeck: "We bought enough gas" - the supply problem lies somewhere else

Created: 08/23/2022, 12:22 p.m

By: Lisa Mayerhofer

Economics Minister Habeck and Chancellor Scholz are trying to get liquid gas in Canada.

According to Habeck, the procurement of gas is not the problem at all - but the infrastructure.

Berlin – Russia has been turning off the gas tap in Germany for months.

In winter, therefore, there is a risk of a serious energy crisis.

The federal government is desperately looking for alternatives to Russian gas.

Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) have therefore traveled to Canada - to conclude an "energy partnership for the future".

This includes the delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Habeck complains about the lack of an alternative infrastructure to Russian gas pipelines

In the "ZDF-Morgenmagazin" Habeck once again explains the biggest challenge in the German gas supply: "In Germany the problem is not the availability of LNG - that is reported again and again," he explained.

But that is not the case.

The real problem is the lack of availability of an alternative infrastructure to the Russian gas pipelines.

“We are now building temporary facilities first and then permanent terminals.

And there is gas for them," said Habeck.

He signed the contracts with the companies last week.

"German companies have bought enough gas on the world market for the infrastructure and will continue to buy it," emphasized the minister.

Habeck: "The question is: 'How does the gas get into our country?'"

However, an infrastructure that would make Germany independent of Russia had to be set up now.

"That's why, unlike in other countries, the first question isn't: 'Where does our gas come from?'

The question is: 'How does the gas get into our country?'

And the answer to that must be given," said Habeck.

So far, Germany has not even had terminals for landing liquefied natural gas.

Floating LNG terminals are scheduled to go into operation in Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbüttel at the turn of the year in order to connect the capacities to the grid.

With an annual regasification capacity of up to 12.5 billion cubic meters, the terminals offer a direct opportunity to obtain natural gas for the German market from regions that cannot be reached by gas pipelines, according to the ministry.

"The terminals thus increase security of supply and contribute to greater independence from pipeline natural gas imports." The federal government had chartered four LNG ships.