Construction of Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal can start quickly

The construction work for Germany's first LNG terminal and for the onshore and seaward port infrastructure can begin now that the - State Trade Supervisory Authority Oldenburg has given its approval for an early start. The official start of construction of the FSRU-based LNG terninal is July 4, 2022. Up to 7.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year are to be handled via this terminal as quickly as possible. This is about 8.5 percent of Germany's current gas demand per year. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and Uniper are aiming for commissioning in winter 2022/2023.

"We are very pleased that things are now visibly getting underway," says Lower Saxony's Minister for the Environment, Energy, Building and Climate Protection Olaf Lies. "We need a replacement for Russian gas as quickly as possible, and we in the north are prepared to take responsibility for this. Every cubic meter we save will help us get through the next winter, and every cubic meter we import to Germany via alternative routes in the future will help us free ourselves more quickly from Russia's grip. Here in Wilhelmshaven, we are currently demonstrating what the new German speed means: we are planning, approving and building at eight times the normal speed. With such complex projects, this is only possible if everyone pulls in the same direction. Our thanks must therefore go in particular to the employees of the approval authorities. They have been working under high pressure day and night for many weeks on this important building block for more independence and freedom of our energy supply."

Klaus-Dieter Maubach, CEO Uniper: "The rapid approval for the early start of construction shows the importance of the LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven for the country's security of supply. This cannot be taken for granted - above all, it shows what is possible when society, industry and politics pull together. We are proud to be able to make a significant contribution to Germany's independence in natural gas supplies at our site in Wilhelmshaven, hopefully before the end of the winter 2022/2023. In the medium and long term, our Green Wilhelmshaven hydrogen project will set the course for an even more climate-friendly energy supply."

Uniper had submitted the application for the required permit and for admission of an early start under the German Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) to the Oldenburg State Trade Inspectorate at the beginning of June. 

The permit for an early start construction works in accordance with §8a BImSchG relates to all parts of the land- and seaward infrastructure as well as an approximately 30 km long high-pressure gas pipeline between the FSRU and the transfer point into the natural gas pipeline network of Open Grid Europe (OGE). The BImSchG application, the essential parts of which have already been submitted to the approval authority, is to be completed by the beginning of September 2022.


Background:

The first landing terminal for LNG in Germany will be built in Wilhelmshaven at the Voslapper Groden transhipment facility. Uniper will build and operate the terminal at the request of the Federal Republic of Germany. Uniper's goal is independence from individual energy sources and a sustainable energy future.

In a second project step, a permanent and expanded port solution for the FSRU is to be realized in parallel to the existing UVG. Here, it is planned to create additional unloading and handling facilities for green gases, e.g. ammonia, in order to be able to utilize the full potential of this new infrastructure project in Wilhelmshaven ("Green Wilhelmshaven").

The Wilhelmshaven site offers ideal conditions from both a maritime and logistical perspective. LNG tankers of all sizes will be able to call at the facility regardless of the tides and in line with the highest international safety standards. All that is required for the connection to the existing natural gas pipeline network is a gas pipeline around 30 kilometers long, the realization of which has already been started by OGE.

About Uniper

Uniper is a leading international energy company, has around 11,500 employees, and operates in more than 40 countries. The company plans for its power generation business in Europe to be carbon-neutral by 2035. Uniper’s roughly 33 GW of installed generation capacity make it one of the world‘s largest electricity producers. The company's core activities include power generation in Europe and Russia as well as global energy trading and a broad gas portfolio, which makes Uniper one of Europe’s leading gas companies. In addition, Uniper is a reliable partner for communities, municipal utilities, and industrial enterprises for planning and implementing innovative, lower-carbon solutions on their decarbonization journey. Uniper is a hydrogen pioneer, is active worldwide along the entire hydrogen value chain, and is conducting projects to make hydrogen a mainstay of the energy supply. 

The company is based in Düsseldorf and is one of Germany’s largest publicly listed energy supply companies. Together with its main shareholder Fortum, Uniper is also Europe’s third-largest producer of zero-carbon energy.