The Bundestag has cleared the way for easier approval of the planned liquefied natural gas terminal on Rügen. The Federal Council also agrees. Criticism of the plans continues.
The Bundestag has decided to include the port of Mukran as a location for a liquefied natural gas terminal (LNG) in the relevant law. Parliament voted in Berlin on Friday for a corresponding amendment to the LNG Acceleration Act. This should enable faster approvals.
In the afternoon, the law then passed the Federal Council successfully. The state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania tried in vain to stop the change in the law by calling the mediation committee. It did not receive a majority in the state chamber.
“To secure the energy supply, a new location will be included in Mukran on Rügen, where the feasibility for the import of LNG is becoming apparent and which can be further developed in the future for use of the port infrastructure and line with hydrogen and its derivatives,” it says Law.
The company Deutsche Regas wants to operate a floating import terminal for LNG in the port of Mukran near Sassnitz on behalf of the federal government. For this purpose, two special ships for the conversion of the liquid gas are to anchor there, one – the “Neptune” – is already in the Rügen port of Lubmin. Because of the easier landing, she is to move together with the so-called FRSU “Transgas Power”, which was secured in mid-June. Overall, Regas wants to ensure a total capacity of 13.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually.
Robert Habeck: “We’re not done yet.”
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck defended the controversial plans. With a view to protests against the terminal, the Green politician spoke of a difficult consideration. But it is about securing Germany’s energy supply. “We’re not through yet.” Habeck said there is currently a stable gas supply situation, the gas storage facilities are already over 80 percent full. “As of today, we’re getting through the winter very well.” However, one should not rely on the fact that everything will always go well.
The CDU MP Philipp Amthor accused the traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP of beating the project “with a crowbar” through parliament, which ignored the interests of the people. His party colleague Philipp Grundmann criticized the choice of location and the procedure: “We need LNG, we need liquid gas. It’s not about if, it’s all about how.” The AfD MP Leif-Erik Holm doubted the necessity of the project and referred to the local resistance: “The Rüganers are not selling off the Baltic Sea coast for a few glass beads from Berlin.” Inga Latendorf from the left complained: “People don’t feel they are being taken seriously, decisions should be made over their heads.”
Bengt Bergt from the SPD, on the other hand, emphasized: “With the possibility for the Mukran location, we are creating security of supply for the whole of Germany.” The energy policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, Michael Kruse, also referred to the security of supply: “We ensure that there are additional capacities and that we are not vulnerable.”
The state government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is opposed to the federal government’s plans. State Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) made it clear on Thursday evening that the state lacked binding commitments from the federal government to promote the region. Under these circumstances, the project is rejected. Shortly after the decision of the Bundestag, the municipality of Binz – which is within sight of the port of Mukran – announced that it wanted to take legal action against the decision before the Federal Administrative Court. A construction freeze is to be achieved with several temporary orders.
In addition, a broad alliance of environmental associations, economists and the tourism industry has formed against the Mukran LNG terminal. In addition to possible effects on the environment and tourism, the need for additional import capacities is also questioned here.
Source: Stern
