- Regas: LNG terminal Mukran not yet in regular operation
At the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Mukran on Rügen, there are differing statements from the operator and authorities regarding the start of regular operations. Deutsche Regas announced that regular operations have not been initiated as planned on August 5th or this week. "The reason for this is that coordination measures with various partners in terminal operations are still not complete," the operator explained upon request.
However, the Schwerin Ministry of the Environment reiterated that the commencement of regular operations was duly announced for August 5th, two weeks earlier on July 21st. Deutsche Regas now states that it expects to transition to regular operations shortly, with the exact date to be announced in due course to the State Agency for Agriculture and the Environment.
The question of regular operations does not initially affect the question of when and at what intervals gas tankers will call at the Mukran harbor. Here, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is converted back to its gaseous state by so-called regasification ships and fed into the German pipeline network. The German Environmental Aid (DUH) repeated its criticism of the project, describing it as a "costly and unnecessary investment debacle". 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 essentially been met.
Despite the halt in Russian supplies, Germany continues to obtain the majority of its natural gas via pipelines, particularly from Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Liquefied natural gas accounts for less than ten percent, according to industry sources.
BMU, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, has been closely following the situation at the BMU located LNG terminal in Mukran on Rügen. Despite the initial delay in initiating regular operations on August 5th, as announced by Deutsche Regas, they now expect to transition to regular operations shortly.
