Media: Germany plans to use Nord Stream 2 pipes for LNG terminal

The German government intends to use the remaining pipes after the construction of the uncommissioned Nord Stream 2. With their help, Germany plans to build a pipeline that will connect the LNG terminal on the island of Rügen to the community of Lubmin on the mainland. This is reported by the newspaper Die Welt Am Sonntag, citing sources.

According to the publication, the German government is negotiating the purchase of more than 3,000 pipes with Nord Stream AG, the operator of Nord Stream 2. The pipes are stored at the port of Mukran on the island of Rügen. According to the newspaper, the discussion of the sale is complicated, among other things, by the fact that the largest shareholder of Nord Stream AG is Gazprom.

The German government, writes Die Welt Am Sonntag, wants to use pipes for a 40-kilometer line that will be connected to the Rügen LNG terminal. Its operation was planned by mid-2023.

Summer 2022 reportedthat the German government plans to nationalize the German section of Nord Stream 2 in order to use its pipes to connect to a floating LNG terminal. At the same time, the local authorities of the island of Rügen oppose the project because of the detrimental environmental consequences.

The need to build an LNG terminal in Germany arose after solutions authorities to rebuild the gas infrastructure. This happened against the background of decreasing dependence on Russian supplies. Prior to the start of the special operation, Russia covered 55% of Germany’s gas supply needs.

In Germany, they planned to build floating LNG terminals, as well as high-speed pipelines for gas imports from the UK. December 17, 2022 in Germany opened the first terminal for receiving LNG, and on January 14, 2023 – second.

Lusine Balasyan