Germany changes regulation to support construction of LNG terminals

BERLIN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The German cabinet passed an amendment to the law that regulates gas network access (gasNZV) on Wednesday which seeks to improve the economic conditions for the country's liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure.

"For the security of gas supplies, it is important for Germany to be able to use as many supply routes and sources as possible. LNG, which is extracted abroad and transported to us by ship, can contribute to this," said German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier.

Until now, the high costs of connecting LNG terminals to the German pipeline network had been a big obstacle to the construction of LNG import terminals in Germany.

The new regulation adopted by the German cabinet will now require the German transmission system operators to build and finance the connecting pipelines between LNG terminals and the transmission system.

The amendment to Germany's gas network access law "removes investment barriers to the private construction of LNG import terminals and strengthens competition between different gas imports", added Altmaier.

Germany is currently one of the largest users of gas in the European Union, drawing around one-quarter of its energy supplies from gas. The German government views natural gas as "an important player in the next phase of the energy revolution".

Back in February, Altmaier expressed strong support for the construction of at least two LNG terminals in northern Germany. As the production of natural gas in Europe is declining, there would be an additional need for gas imports both for the EU and for Germany.

It would therefore be "strategically important to enable the landing of LNG on German territory", according to the draft regulation.