The import terminal for liquefied natural gas in Wilhelmshaven has started operations. The environmental aid is critical of the long term until 2043 and objects to the operating license.
The German Environmental Aid (DUH) has lodged an objection to the operating license for the import terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Wilhelmshaven. The association demands that the operation of the floating terminal ship “Höegh Esperanza”, which opened in December, be limited to a maximum of ten years and that the discharge of waste water treated with biocides into the sea be stopped.
Instead, the terminal operator, the gas importer Uniper, should rely on environmentally friendly cleaning processes without chemicals. The responsible Lower Saxony State Office for Water Management, Coastal Defense and Nature Conservation (NLWKN) had given the water law permit for the terminal in mid-December.
The operation of the terminal is currently limited in the LNG Act to 2043, i.e. to 20 years. For the German Environmental Aid and other environmental protection associations, this is clearly too long. From their point of view, the long term contradicts the goals of reducing emissions of climate-damaging gases according to the Paris climate agreement.
According to a statement on Wednesday, DUH Federal Managing Director Sascha Müller-Kraenner said it had to be ensured that climate protection also endured in the current energy crisis. “If we now issue numerous permanent operating permits for new fossil projects, we are taking ourselves from one fossil dependency to the next and jeopardizing our climate goals.” The term of the Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal must therefore be limited to a maximum of ten years. Environmental aid is also taking action against the operating life of the newly built connection pipeline. It should also be limited to ten years.
According to associations, biocides damage the sea
Environmental protection associations also criticize the discharge of waste water treated with biocides into the sea. Because in order to convert the liquefied natural gas delivered by tankers back into gas, it has to be heated with North Sea water on board the LNG terminal. According to the operator Uniper, chlorine must be used as a biocide for cleaning so that the seawater systems of the ship do not become overgrown with mussels or barnacles. According to the approval authority NLWKN, the requested amount meets the legal requirements.
In view of the use of chlorine, environmental aid fears damage to the adjacent Wadden Sea. “The use of tons of chlorine as a biocide is a disaster for the biodiversity of the jade and local mussel fishermen and also clearly shows what the failures of environmental assessments mean for infrastructure projects,” said DUH energy expert Constantin Zerger. The association calls for other, such as mechanical cleaning processes, to be used instead of chemicals.
The LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven is the first to open in Germany. It is part of Germany’s efforts to become independent of natural gas from Russia. In the application process for the terminal, there were around 300 objections from public bodies, environmental organizations and private individuals.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
