German government looking into financing options for domestic LNG terminal

The German government is considering providing financial support to the construction of what would be the country’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, according to spokesperson Steffen Seibert. While private investors are currently examining different locations and analysing the feasibility and profitability of such a project, “the government is looking at the financing options that could be made available in the framework of the existing government programmes,” Seibert said at a government press conference. “In view of the CO₂ issue, gas may play an even greater role in our energy supply in the future,” he added. In the current coalition treaty from early 2018, the government says it wants to make Germany a location for LNG infrastructure. The Wall Street Journal had reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel told a small group of lawmakers her government had decided to co-finance the construction of a 500 million euro LNG shipping terminal in northern Germany. Seibert said he would not comment on the chancellor’s confidential remarks.

Find the WSJ article (behind paywall) in English here and read a Deutsche Welle article on the topic in English here. 

For background, read the CLEW news item Germany to build LNG plant in 'gesture' to US drive to sell more, the factsheet Gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 links Germany to Russia, but splits Europe and the dossier The role of gas in Germany's energy transition.