DET says Stade FSRU terminal will not go into operation before Q2 2026

In March 2024, the 2021-built 174,000-cbm FSRU, Energos Force, owned by Apollo’s Energos Infrastructure and chartered by Germany’s federal government, arrived at the AVG jetty in Stade.

However, DET terminated the contract related to the Stade FSRU-based facility with compatriot Hanseatic Energy Hub, the developer of the onshore LNG terminal in Stade, in March this year.

DET also sub-chartered Energos Force for deployment in Jordan.

The LNG terminal operator announced in a statement that “significant” progress has been made toward the completion and subsequent commissioning of the LNG terminal in Stade.

According to an agreement dated November 14 between DET and HEH, which has been responsible for the construction of the superstructure for the FSRU terminal to date, DET will now take over the completion of the superstructure.

DET said the agreement grants copmany access to the superstructure, enabling it to immediately begin inspection, planning, and completion.

Also, DET partner companies can now be mobilized for the remaining work and commissioned to procure the necessary materials.

“At the core of the project’s completion are international safety standards, complete mandatory documentation, and full compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements. These are the prerequisites for the floating LNG terminal to be accepted by the global gas trade,” DET said.

“Based on the current situation, it can be assumed that the terminal will not go into operation before the second quarter of 2026. A more precise schedule can be expected once the inspections have been completed. The timely return of the sub-chartered regasification vessel FSRU Energos Force is ensured,” the company said.

DET’s FSRUs

DET currently operates three FSRU-based LNG import facilities, two in Wilhelmshaven and one in Brunsbüttel.

The company will hold a short-term capacity auction for its three FSRU-based facilities later this month.

DET previously announced that the 170,000-cbm FSRU Hoegh Gannet, which serves the Elbehafen LNG import terminal in Brunsbüttel, will be relocated to the Danish Fayard shipyard from September 18 until the middle of November.

According to its AIS data, the FSRU is expected to return to Brunsbüttel this week.

Hoegh Gannet is currently working at the Brunsbüttel Port’s existing dangerous goods berth in Brunsbüttel’s Elbehafen port, while a new jetty is being built to the west of this location.

In addition to the Brunsbüttel FSRU-based terminal, DET operates the two facilities in Wilhelmshaven.

DET launched commercial operations at its second FSRU-based terminal in Wilhelmshaven in August.

In May, the 2024-built 174,000-cbm Energy Endurance delivered the commissioning cargo to Excelerate’s 138,000-cbm FSRU Excelsior in Wilhelmshaven from Venture Global LNG’s Plaquemines LNG export plant in Louisiana.

The chartered FSRU is located two kilometers south of the Wilhelmshaven 1 terminal.

It is moored at an island jetty, completed last year, and located about 1.5 km from the shore.