Report: Start-up of Lubmin LNG terminal delayed

The launch of operations at the floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Lubmin, Germany, has been delayed for several weeks, according to reports by Der Spiegel news magazine.

Germany’s first private LNG terminal was scheduled to begin operations at the beginning of December. The first floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) chartered from French energy major TotalEnergies for use at the Lubmin terminal arrived at Mukran Port on 23 November.

However, the start-up has been postponed by several weeks due to pending approval procedures.

The terminal operator Deutsche ReGas confirmed this to Der Spiegel on 8 December. “We expect to start the terminal in December, the month runs until the 31st”, the magazine quoted Deutsche Regas spokesperson as saying.

As reported, all technical precautions have been taken but the operator is still missing two permits – the European Commission’s formal approval of an exceptional permit from the Federal Network Agency for the terminal and the operating permit.

The operating license is to be granted by the Office for Agriculture and the Environment in Western Pomerania, after examining a total of 28 individual objections and one collective objection with 1071 signatories that nature conservation associations, citizens and infrastructure operators have raised against the terminal.

Insiders consider it unlikely that the authorities will refuse permission for the project. However, it is uncertain how long the review will take, Der Spiegel writes.

Meanwhile, the opening of the LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven has been scheduled for Saturday next week.

To remind, the port infrastructure for the first LNG jetty was completed on 15 November and is ready to receive the designated Wilhelmshaven FSRU, the 2018-built Hoegh Esperanza.