2023-05-10 10:24:00
The federal government has made a commitment in the months-long dispute over the construction of a new LNG terminal in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. According to the plans of Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Die Grünen), the liquid natural gas station is to be built in the port of Mukran on Rügen.
The federal government wants to build a new LNG terminal in the port of Mukran on Rügen. A corresponding letter from Habeck to the State Minister for Economic Affairs Reinhard Meyer (SPD) is available to the NDR. Now things should be quick: the federal government wants to submit the permit applications to the Stralsund Mining Authority and the State Environmental Agency as early as June. It is about a 50-kilometer pipeline through the Greifswalder Bodden from the port of Mukran to the central point of entry into the gas network in Lubmin.
Federal Minister of Economics Habeck wants to talk to the state government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania about the terminal on Friday. A spokeswoman for the ministry said on request that he would travel to Mukran in the east of the island on Friday. It should promote the LNG plans and explain the need for them.
Disappointment on the island of Rügen
The Mayor of Binz, Karsten Schneider, was disappointed with the federal decision on NDR MV Live on Tuesday. According to him, there is always talk of communication, which apparently does not take place. He accused the federal government of not playing with open cards and presenting people on Rügen with a fait accompli. The municipality of Binz has announced legal action.
Environmental aid plans meetings
The German Environmental Aid also wants to take legal action against the decision. According to a statement by Federal Managing Director Sascha Müller-Kraenner, people are not taken seriously in their concerns and certainly not involved. The massive interventions in the sensitive natural environment of the Baltic Sea were never seriously weighed against the possible advantages of the LNG terminal. In just under two weeks, environmental aid wants to invite people to a meeting on the island – to talk to environmental protection associations, authorities, tourism managers and residents about the planned project.
FDP: Understanding of concerns
The FDP member of parliament David Wulff expressed understanding for the concerns prevailing on Rügen. It is therefore important to get the best possible out of the situation for the region. “If Rügen creates an enormous benefit for all of Germany and half of Europe with the LNG terminal, then the local people must also benefit from it,” says Wulff. In addition, the expansion of the infrastructure for tourism and the economy must be promoted.
Greens demand proof of need
Criticism also comes from the Green MP Hannes Damm. It is unclear how the federal government demonstrated the need for the construction of the LNG terminal on Rügen. “If the state government now follows the federal plans without objection, it is disregarding the state parliament resolution of March this year,” he explains. In it, the factions of the SPD, Left, FDP and Greens decided that the state government would demand proof from the federal government that the terminal was necessary for security of supply. The available data showed that the European energy supply is secure even without an additional LNG terminal.
Gas supply still “sewn on edge”
Federal Economics Minister Habeck had already informed the state of the plans in Mukran last Friday. It is about “quickly finding a solution for the LNG site Mukran”. According to the federal government, Germany’s gas supply will remain “sewn on edge”, especially if the coming winters are unusually cold. In addition, one must make provisions in the event that Russia stops its ongoing gas deliveries via land pipelines, so far Europe has been getting a lot of natural gas this way.
LNG terminal at sea “technically difficult”
“There is no question that we have a tense supply situation and further short-term need for LNG capacities,” Habeck wrote to his counterpart in Schwerin. Therefore, the Green Minister wants to take precautions. The Rostock seaport is not an alternative LNG location, it is about oil handling. Building an LNG station far out on the Baltic Sea is technically difficult and ecologically questionable. In contrast, Habeck believes that the port of Mukran is best suited as an LNG location. Tankers with liquid gas are to land their cargo there, the cargo is to be converted into natural gas in two FSRUs (regasification ships) and transported to Lubmin through the new pipeline.
Relief planned for Lubmin
The port of Mukran has a draft of more than 14 meters, which should allow LNG ships to enter. It also offers enough space for two FSRUs. Only one of these is additional. Because the second regasification ship “Neptune”, which was previously in Lubmin, is to be relocated to Mukran. The operating company, Deutsche ReGas, would use the pipeline between Mukran and Lubmin.
ReGas is also said to be the operator of the Mukran plant, Habeck speaks of a “simplified project structure”. Originally, the energy company RWE was under discussion for the terminal in Mukran. The shuttle traffic between the LNG terminal and the port of Lubmin, which is seen as a burden on the Bodden, would be eliminated, as would the noise pollution at the Lubmin site.
Minister wants to talk to the population
A permanent terminal is also to be built in Mukran that can feed green hydrogen into the grid. According to preliminary plans, ammonia is to be converted into hydrogen at the site using green wind power. Details have yet to be clarified. State Economics Minister Reinhard Meyer (SPD) told NDR that he considered Habeck’s proposals as a whole to be convincing. He thinks it is difficult to reject them completely. “We have to talk together about what’s possible, what’s reasonable, what’s acceptable,” says Meyer. “The federal government has to answer the question: What do the citizens gain from such ships being stationed there?” The state and federal government have already thought about this.
resistance for months
The federal government had already brought the port of Mukran into play during a visit to Rügen by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) almost three weeks ago. The LNG plans on Rügen have been causing fierce resistance on the island for months. LNG opponents first explained the reasons for their rejection to the Bundestag’s Petitions Committee on Monday. Some of them then had the impression that they had found open ears. Critics fear for the environment and tourism, which is particularly important for Rügen. The Schwerin state government had also expressed doubts that the terminal would be needed and had asked for a statement of the need.
This topic in the program:
NDR Television | North Magazine | 09.05.2023 | 19:30 o’clock
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