German energy firm EnBW has booked long-term capacity at Hanseatic Energy Hub’s planned Stade LNG import terminal in Germany.
Earlier this year, EnBW and HEH signed a memorandum of understanding on capacity booking.
Now the two firms finalized the deal and EnBW would import three billion cubic meters of LNG per year via the terminal in Stade beginning with commissioning in 2026, according to a joint statement on Thursday.
“The capacities were booked bindingly in the past few days as part of a sales process and will make a significant contribution to Germany’s security of supply with affordable energy,” they said.
In addition, EnBW would have the option to move to ammonia as a hydrogen-based energy source at a later date.
This possibility is open to all HEH customers with a long-term contract of more than 10 years, the statement said.
HEH’s LNG import facility will have a capacity of 13.3 billion cubic meters.
In June, the consortium consisting of Fluxys, Dow, Partners Group, and Buss Group, launched a binding open season for the facility.
Prior to the onshore facility, Stade will host one of the five FSRUs chartered by the German federal government.
In September, HEH said that it expected construction work to start soon on a jetty that would accommodate one of these FSRUs in 2023.
Germany currently does not have LNG import terminals but the 170,000-cbm FSRU Hoegh Esperanza is heading towards the country to start serving the Uniper-led Wilhelmshaven facility.
US LNG supplies
In October, US LNG exporter Venture Global LNG signed a deal to provide more liquefied natural gas to EnBW, increasing the previously agreed volumes.
Under the deal, EnBW increased the quantity of its long-term LNG offtake from Venture Global by an additional 0.5 mtpa from Plaquemines and CP2 LNG.
Prior to that, the two firms signed two 20-year sales and purchase agreements under which Venture Global agree to supply about 1.5 million tonnes per annum from its Plaquemines and CP2 facilities, starting in 2026.