Europe relies on liquefied natural gas (LNG) – a status quo on the European LNG situation

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On February 22, 2023, we already reported on the progress of the German LNG projects . In addition to three long-term planned fixed LNG terminals in Wilhelmshaven, Brunsbüttel and Stade (commissioning in 2025/2026), the focus is currently on six floating units as an interim solution: Wilhelmshaven I + II, Lubmin I + II, Brunsbüttel and Stade.

However, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, our European neighbours are also relying on efficiency measures and increased LNG imports from non-Russian sources in order to reduce the continent's dependence on Russian gas by at least 155 billion cubic metres by 2030.

But what is the LNG situation at the European level? In our blog post we give you a brief overview.

As a reminder: What is LNG again?
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been albania consumer email list cooled to -162 °C in a liquid state for easier storage and transport. LNG can be transported by ship, truck or rail to places that conventional natural gas pipelines cannot reach. In general, the gas is first liquefied in the country of origin, then transported by ship and regasified at the destination before being fed into existing gas networks. A distinction is made between land-based and floating LNG plants: Tankers loaded with liquefied natural gas can dock at the permanently installed, land-based LNG terminals. The LNG is converted back into the gaseous state there - regasified - and then fed into the gas network on land. There are also floating LNG terminals: special ships, known in the industry as Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs), function as such, on which the liquefied natural gas can be converted and piped ashore.

Figures, Data & Facts on European LNG
LNG accounts for 24 percent of the EU's total natural gas imports in 2021 - the rest was delivered via pipelines, mainly from Russia, Norway, the United Kingdom and Algeria. While total net natural gas imports in the EU increased by 2.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, LNG imports increased by 33 percent, with a 53 percent increase recorded in December. LNG imports for January and February 2022 more than doubled year-on-year. So far, the following countries in the EU import LNG: Germany, Italy, Finland, Estonia, Portugal, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Poland, Lithuania, Croatia, Malta and Spain.