Germany Achieves Independence from Russian Natural Gas by Building LNG Terminal in Just 200 Days

In May 2021, Germany satisfied 64.1 percent of its natural gas needs from Russian sources; today, it is a completely different story. After Russia halted the flow of natural gas to Germany, the strongest European economy redirected its needs to other sources, managing to build its first LNG terminal in just two hundred days, reducing the figure of 64.1 percent to zero percent.

Overall, Germany imported 12.3 percent less natural gas in 2022 than the previous year, and with the introduction of measures against Russia, Norway has positioned itself as the main supplier of natural gas with 42 percent of total supply, as recorded in December.

– The lost gas deliveries from Russia have been partially compensated by additional imports, mainly from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway – stated the national energy regulator on Friday, as reported by Reuters.

Germany’s gas storage is currently filled to 91 percent, and consumption has fallen by 14 percent due to unexpectedly high temperatures for this time of year. However, while Germany, like the rest of Europe, has secured gas for this winter, the supply for the next winter season remains uncertain.

The first LNG terminal in the port of Wilhelmshaven in Germany marks the beginning of the European power’s independence from Russia, and according to Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the opening in mid-December, once three more terminals are built in Lubmin, Brunsbuettel, and Stade, Germany will be able to boast energy independence.

In addition to LNG terminals, Germany is also focusing on somewhat ‘greener’ energy sources, as last week the collaboration between the German company RWE and the Norwegian company Equinor was announced, which plans to build several new gas power plants that should eventually operate on hydrogen. This is part of the efforts of European countries to become fully carbon neutral in the next 20 years, and the fact that it distances them from Russia is certainly an added bonus.