20.03.2023
European LNG terminals at around 60 per cent capacity utilisation
The European LNG terminals continue to be well utilised. In the current quarter, the exit rates remain at an average of 61 per cent, which is similar to the fourth quarter of 2022, wrote the consultancy Teams Consult in its current 'LNG Market Radar'.
Source: energate For the first time, Germany's first LNG terminal, Wilhelmshaven I, is making its presence felt in the data. According to the operator, one LNG ship is unloaded there every week. In Lubmin, too, the first natural gas is flowing from the special ship (FSRU) 'Neptune' into the German natural gas grid, while in Brunsbüttel the commissionimg ist still delayed. In total, about 10 per cent more LNG is coming to Europe by tanker than a year ago. In the meantime, 4,730 GWh are unloaded daily (Q1/22: 4,290 GWh). Before the start of the war and the collapse of Russian pipeline deliveries, the rate of delivery was "always well below 4,000 GWh", the analysts classified in their report. In terms of costs, the experts refer to the analysis of the Shell Group. In 2022, Europe increased its LNG imports by 60 per cent from 105 to 167 billion cubic metres, the costs tripled to 190 billion US dollars. Study criticises stranded investments in Germany Meanwhile, criticism of the LNG expansion plans in Germany continues unabated. In a new analysis, the Cologne-based New Climate Institute questions the latest calculation of the Federal Ministry of Economics. "The new and planned floating terminals are already sufficient to cover interim supply bottlenecks even in extreme situations with infrastructure failures," the authors sum up. The construction of the onshore terminals is not necessary "at any time". In their eyes, the Federal Ministry of Economics is deliberately calculating with too small capacities of individual FSRUs on the one hand and too high natural gas demand on the other. |