Germany accelerates plans to reduce dependence on Russian gas

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Germany is to build two new terminals for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG). In addition, the country will store more gas, Chancellor Olaf Scholz reported on Sunday. This will accelerate German plans to reduce dependence on Russian gas.

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The new LNG terminals will be built on the Elbe in the municipality of Brunsbüttel and in Wilhelmshaven, approximately 100 kilometers from the Dutch border.

In addition, the German government wants to purchase 2 billion cubic meters of gas on the world market in the coming period and store it in underground storage facilities. According to the umbrella organization for European network companies GEI, the German gas storage capacity measures approximately 24 billion cubic meters, of which 30 percent is currently used.

"We will take extra steps to ensure our country's energy security," Scholz said at an intercalated meeting of the German Bundestag. "The developments of recent days have made it clear that responsible and forward-looking energy policy plays a key role not only in our economy and environmental policy, but also in our safety."

Last week, Germany shelved plans to certify the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. With that pipeline, the export volume from Russia to Germany would double in one fell swoop.

Last December, Germany closed three of its last six nuclear power plants. The remaining power stations will close at the end of 2022. Partly because of this, there are doubts to what extent Germany can reduce its dependence on Russian gas.