- Ministry: LNG terminal Mukran is shown
After months of testing with a few deliveries, the start of regular operations at the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Mukran on the island of Rügen appears imminent. A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Environment in Schwerin confirmed that the terminal operator, Deutsche Ragas, has announced the start of regular operations for next Monday, which was done in a timely manner on July 21. The NDR had previously reported on the plans for Regas.
The company did not initially respond to a request for comment, leaving open the question of when and at what intervals gas tankers will call at the Mukran harbor, where the liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be regasified by two so-called regasification ships and fed into the German pipeline network.
The permit for continuous operation was granted by the Ministry of the Environment in Schwerin in April, despite massive protests on the island. The ministry stated that the conditions imposed at the time have been largely implemented.
The federal government included the construction of the terminal on the heavily tourism-dependent east coast of Rügen in the LNG Acceleration Act to further secure Germany's gas supply. However, doubts are growing as to whether a gas shortage, which was the decisive reason for the construction of special terminals for gas tankers, is imminent.
Despite the stoppage of Russian supplies, Germany continues to obtain the vast majority of its natural gas through pipelines, particularly from Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Liquefied natural gas accounts for less than ten percent, according to industry sources.
The commencement of regular operation at the Mukran LNG terminal is scheduled for next Monday, as announced by Deutsche Ragas. After the implementation of most stipulated conditions, the permit for continuous operation was granted in April.
