Germany’s LNG Terminal Partners Launch Open Season

Three joint venture companies, looking to build an LNG import terminal in Northern Germany, launched an Open Season on January 17 to attract interest from the market and gain detailed insight in demand.

Gasunie LNG Holding, Oiltanking GmbH and Vopak LNG Holding, which are in the process of establishing the JV German LNG Terminal GmbH, said that the move marks an important milestone in the development of the country’s first LNG terminal.

The facility would provide LNG distribution services, including discharge and loading of LNG ships, storage of LNG, regasification and send out into the natural gas network and LNG distribution via trucks and barges.

Under the JV, the trio would build, own and operate the import terminal which would further diversify Germany’s sources of gas supply and facilitates access to LNG as an alternative low-emission fuel. The development of German LNG Terminal is currently focusing on the location Brunsbüttel.

In July 2017, the three companies received EU antitrust approval to establish a joint venture. Subject to, among others, the outcome of the Open Season, the start of construction of Germany’s first LNG terminal is envisaged after the final investment decision in 2019, to be ready for operations in the fourth quarter of 2022.