Habeck on LNG terminals: “Repelling emergencies has absolute priority”

Too big, too expensive and not environmentally friendly – the floating LNG terminals have received a lot of criticism. Before tomorrow’s opening of the first terminal in Wilhelmshaven, Economics Minister Habeck will defend his energy policy in the tagesthemes.

Before the opening of the first floating import terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Wilhelmshaven, Economics Minister Robert Habeck interviewed the daily topics defended its energy policy. “Averting the emergency has absolute political priority,” he said in relation to a possible gas shortage.

The terminal will be officially opened tomorrow in the presence of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other top politicians from the traffic light coalition. The government “decided wisely, reacted decisively and managed to do something that was rightly considered impossible in the middle of the year,” Habeck said in an interview.

Habeck: Terminals can be used flexibly

After the loss of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, Germany was missing around half of the gas it needed, according to the minister. Without the new infrastructure, Germany would face a gas shortage. “And that will immediately lead to the German economy and society’s support for Ukraine collapsing.”

Critics describe the eleven liquefied natural gas terminals as clearly oversized. If all the plants are in operation in four years, their annual capacity will be 73 billion cubic meters of natural gas – that’s far too much, criticizes a recent study by the NewClimate Institute, an energy transition think tank. Before the crisis, Russia exported an average of just 46 billion cubic meters per year. As a result, there was a risk of significant bad investments that would have to be paid for in part from taxpayers’ money.

“There can be no talk of overcapacity,” Habeck contradicted daily topicsinterview and pointed out that the terminals only ensure a third of German consumption. Compared to the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, the floating LNG plants can also be used more flexibly. The ships could continue to be chartered out when they were no longer needed. “And we build all infrastructure hydrogen-ready, which means that the terminals that we build can – as soon as there is enough hydrogen – be switched to another climate-neutral energy source.”

Perspective of climate neutrality

Environmental groups are skeptical. “The whole thing is a fossil trap because the terminals have existed for years and we will be importing fossil energy for a long time,” criticized Constantin Zerger from the German Environmental Aid.

The Economics Minister, on the other hand, indicated in the daily topics LNG as a “necessary intermediate step”. The new infrastructure was built in such a way that the climate protection goals could be achieved by 2045. In the future, gas consumption should be reduced, and the terminals are a “necessary intermediate step” on the way there.

Faster decisions

Participation processes have been shortened for the LNG terminals. However, the minister believes the permit will stand up to lawsuits. “The courts will be smart enough to always weigh up the alternative in such a way that it is taken into account.” And according to Habeck, the alternative would be “no gas in winter”.

By 2030, Germany wants to increase the share of renewable energies to 80 percent, with increasing electricity demand. Basically, the performance would have to be doubled. Therefore, “quick and clear decisions” will also be needed in the future in order to meet the climate protection goals. And meant faster approvals. It often takes six to eight years to erect wind turbines: “But that doesn’t mean less environmental protection”.

More terminals in the coming year

The first opening of a floating LNG terminal is celebrated in Wilhelmshaven, but it will not be the last. Chancellor Scholz announced that he intends to push further terminals in the coming year. And he hopes for further supply contracts.

“The federal government is in constant contact with the gas importers and is also promoting the conclusion of longer-term contracts,” he said. Most of the gas will come from Norway, the United States and the Gulf region, with a small portion from the Netherlands.