June 16, 2023 [LNG Prime]- German LNG terminal operator Deutsche ReGas will soon launch a binding open season for regasification capacity at the planned FSRU-based LNG import terminal in the port of Mukran.
The binding season is part of the second phase of the “Deutsche Ostsee” LNG terminal, Deutsche ReGas said in a statement issued on Friday.
Deutsche ReGas officially launched its Lubmin FSRU-based LNG import terminal with a capacity of 5.2 bcm per year, the first private LNG terminal in Germany besides the government-backed facilities, in January this year.
The project includes the 2009-built 145,000-cbm, FSRU Neptune, which it chartered from French energy giant TotalEnergies.
Besides the FSRU, the 137,814-cbm LNG carrier Seapeak Hispania serves as a floating storage unit for the project, while Deutsche ReGas chartered three small LNG carriers from Anthony Veder to transport LNG from the FSU to the FSRU due to draft restrictions in Lubmin.
TotalEnergies and Switzerland-based trading firm MET Group booked capacity at this FSRU-based facility.
Mukran LNG plans
Deutsche ReGas said it is planning to construct and operate the LNG terminal “Deutsche Ostsee”
Phase II at the port of Mukran.
According to its website, it will move FSRU Neptune from Lubmin to Mukran later this year.
The terminal will then operate under the name Energy Terminal Mukran “Deutsche Ostsee”.
Moreover, the second phase of its terminal will consist of two FSRUs in the port of Mukran and operations are expected to start from December 2023, it said.
The firm led by Ingo Wagner and Stephan Knabe did not provide any additional info regarding the second FSRU.
Deutsche ReGas said the terminal will connect to the gas transmission network via a new connecting pipeline to be built between Mukran and Lubmin.
Germany’s Gascade, which built the Lubmin LNG pipeline, is in charge for this pipeline as well.
The second phase of the terminal will have a capacity of up to 13.5 bcm per year, it said.
Deutsche ReGas said the binding open season procedure for Phase II will start on June 29 and will run until August 4, 2023.
The regasification capacities can be booked from February 2024, it said.
Chartered FSRUs
Several sources previously said that Deutsche ReGas will develop the FSRU-based project in the Mukran port in cooperation with the German government instead of RWE.
Energy firm RWE also confirmed that it will not take part in the German government’s plans to develop the terminal in the Mukran port on the island of Rügen.
This terminal has faced strong opposition from environmental groups in Germany.
The German government, helped by Uniper, RWE, and a consortium of Engie, TES, and E.ON chartered in total five FSRUs to import LNG and replace pipeline gas supplies from Russia.
Uniper and RWE already installed Hoegh LNG’s FSRUs in Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbüttel.
Transgas Force, owned by Dynagas, will work in Stade, while Excelerate Energy’s FSRU Excelsior will serve the second project in Wilhelmshaven.
The remaining FSRU is the 174,000-cbm FSRU Transgas Power, owned by Dynagas.
LNG Prime invited Deutsche ReGas to comment whether FSRU Transgas Power will work along FSRU Neptune in the Mukran port, but we did not receive a reply by the time this article was published.
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