First quay for LNG facilities opens in Germany

The first quay designed for a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility opened on the north Germany coast on Tuesday, as Berlin pursues a rapid shift in its energy strategy, reported dpa.

The German government has turned away from Russian gas in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. LNG - delivered via ship to offshore terminals - is seen as a key replacement for Russian gas supplies, which used to be delivered through undersea pipelines.

The Wilhelmshaven port in north-west Germany has converted an existing quay so that it can now accommodate a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) which will be permanently stationed there.

The FSRU, named Höegh Esperanza, is scheduled to moor at the jetty in December.

"The early decision to choose Wilhelmshaven as a hub for LNG imports was correct," said the economy minister for the state of Lower Saxony, Olaf Lies.

The state's environment minister, Christian Meyer, said that the terminal would help secure Germany's energy supplies, but added that the ultimate aim was to further develop the port to receive green hydrogen and renewable energy from the North Sea.