The Federal Minister of Economics only came to Mukran on Friday for talks about the controversial plans to install an LNG terminal on Rügen. An approval process is still pending.
For the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal planned there, Mukran in the east of the island of Rügen is to be included in the LNG Acceleration Act (LNGG). This became known on Monday from circles of the Federal Ministry of Economics (BMWK). The inclusion is intended to pave the way for a faster approval process. According to the information, the location is basically suitable from a technical and legal point of view. The specific planning documents would have to be checked by the competent state authorities.
project is controversial
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) only came to Mukran on Friday for talks about the controversial plans and referred to the tight schedule. As has now become known, according to current estimates, the BMWK still considers commissioning in the first quarter of 2024 to be possible. However, this is highly uncertain and depends on the start of the project and the approval process. Habeck said on Friday that the federal cabinet would have to decide to include Mukran in the LNGG in May so that the Bundestag can also vote before the summer break.
The terminal planned for the import of liquefied natural gas at the Rügen site is controversial. Critics, especially on the island, are concerned about tourism, which is particularly important there, but also about the environment and criticize the creation of overcapacities that they believe are unnecessary. According to the BMWK, the terminal is necessary for the security of energy supply for Germany and the EU.
conflicts with nature conservation
The terminal should therefore prevent bottlenecks when the winter gets colder or there are failures in the existing infrastructure or ongoing deliveries from Russia to the EU. In addition, the location in the east with connections to numerous lines is important.
The Schwerin Economics Minister Reinhard Meyer (SPD) said on Friday that he was convinced of the need. However, there are conflicts with tourism and nature conservation and these must be evaluated by the state government. For this, the country needs concrete projects and concrete documents.
According to federal plans, two special ships are to be stationed in the port, which is already in industrial use, to convert and feed in the LNG delivered by ship. A pipeline around 50 kilometers long is to connect Mukran to Lubmin. The defunct German-Russian pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2 land here, and there are several large-capacity lines for onward distribution.
Source: Stern
