Germany inaugurated its second liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on Saturday, as part of Europe’s largest economy’s efforts to end its reliance on Russian energy sources.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz attended the ceremony in Lubmin on the Baltic Sea coast less than a month after opening Germany’s first liquefied natural gas terminal.
The terminals are part of an effort to prevent an energy shortage that also includes the temporary reactivation of old nuclear power plants.
A few days after Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Scholz announced that his government had decided to quickly build the first LNG terminals.
Germany has also struggled to fill its gas storage facilities before winter.
“We are going through this winter (…) the gas supply is not affected and we can ensure it everywhere in Germany, contrary to what many have long feared”Mr. Scholz said on Saturday.
“An economic crisis has not materialized in Germany either”he added, pointing to government support programs, decisions to secure energy supplies and falling gas prices on world markets.
Scholz praised the speed with which the first terminals have been built and said a special regasification vessel needed for Germany’s third terminal, at Brunsbüttel on the North Sea coast, will arrive next week.