Germany – RWE is set to hand over the LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) infrastructure in Brunsbüttel to the federally owned Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET) on January 1, 2024.

This development follows around ten months after the initiation of the first LNG import flow. RWE chartered the Hoegh Gannet floating LNG terminal in response to the Russian war of aggression in February 2022. In a commendable display of efficiency, the corresponding infrastructure in Brunsbüttel, known as the Elbehafen project, was swiftly built and operationalized by RWE during 2023.

Operational handover

RWE’s involvement in chartering the Hoegh Gannet and constructing the LNG infrastructure underscores the private sector’s pivotal role in supporting national energy strategies. As planned, DET, the authorized operator of the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) terminal in Brunsbüttel, will assume control of the LNG infrastructure and its operational management.

Since the beginning of 2023, liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been directly imported to Germany through the Brunsbüttel terminal. This direct importation is a strategic move to diversify gas supplies, particularly in the context of geopolitical uncertainties impacting traditional pipelines.