“Stop construction in Wilhelmshaven”
Environmental aid wants to prevent LNG terminal
5/4/2022 5:56 p.m
In order to make Germany independent of Russian natural gas, Economics Minister Habeck is planning four liquid gas terminals in a hurry. The facility in Wilhelmshaven should be ready by the end of the year. The environmental aid objects and refers to endangered porpoises.
A new terminal for the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Wilhelmshaven is intended to make Germany less dependent on gas imports from Russia – however, the German Environmental Aid has now called for an immediate halt to construction. The construction threatens the irreversible destruction of an underwater biotope, and porpoises would also be endangered, the association said.
Nevertheless, the start of construction was approved without disclosure of the documents and the participation of environmental organizations. The environmental aid have therefore lodged an objection to the decision of the State Office for Water Management, Coastal Defense and Nature Conservation (NLWKN).
“Instead of finally consistently initiating the change towards a climate-neutral society, the floodgates continue to be opened to the destruction of our livelihoods,” criticized the federal director of environmental aid, Sascha Müller-Kraenner. Especially in times of crisis, the principles of the rule of law must be preserved. This applies in particular to climate protection and environmental law.
“Contradiction Remarkably Inappropriate”
Lower Saxony’s Energy Minister Olaf Lies, on the other hand, described the environmental aid’s objection as “remarkably inappropriate”. “Many people are working day and night under high pressure to ensure that Germany can get out of the Russian grip on gas as quickly as possible,” said the SPD politician. “The interim solution with floating LNG terminals is an elementary pillar.”
The first work on the terminal in Wilhelmshaven should start this week, as Lower Saxony’s Ministry of Energy had announced. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck is expected in Hooksiel near Wilhelmshaven on Thursday to sign a declaration of intent to expand the location “to become a hub for clean energy for Germany”. LNG imports should start by early 2023 at the latest.
Germany wants to build a total of four floating liquid gas terminals and has set aside 2.94 billion euros in the budget for this. Two location decisions in favor of Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbüttel have already been made, the Federal Ministry of Economics announced on Sunday. While the work in Wilhelmshaven should be completed this year, commissioning in Brunsbüttel is planned for early 2023. Stade, Rostock, Hamburg-Moorburg or Eemshaven in the Netherlands might be considered as further locations for stationing a floating LNG plant, it said.
