Germany wants to limit Russian LNG supplies
Germany's government is looking to limit imports of Russian LNG, Bloomberg reported on January 30, citing written responses by deputy energy minister Patrick Graichen to questions filed by opposition lawmakers.
The government may require companies to provide information about the origin of LNG purchases, if the volume exceeds 5 TWh, according to Bloomberg.
While Russia has cut piped gas supply to Europe by 80% since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, Russian LNG deliveries to the market actually rose last year. The share of Russian LNG heading to Europe rose to 25% in 2022, and Russia was the third biggest supplier of LNG to the continent after the US and Qatar.
Germany, once the largest buyer of Russian piped gas, had its supply cut off over the summer after Gazprom restricted flow via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. With Nord Stream 1 now out of action after suspected sabotage in September, and the Yamal-Europe rendered incapable of westward gas flow as a result of sanctions by Russia and Poland, prospects for the return of Russian supply to Germany look limited.
Berlin has responded to the loss of Russian gas supply by embracing LNG. Germany imported its first LNG cargo in early January at a new floating terminal at the port of Wilhelmshaven. The shipment originated from Venture Global's Calcasieu Pass terminal in Louisiana, in the US.
The German government expects to have six floating storage and regasification units ready to import LNG by the end of this year, each capable of bringing ashore at least 5bn m3 of gas.