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Deutsche ReGas revealed this in a statement issued on Friday announcing the launch of an open season for long-term capacity.
With this, the “Deutsche Ostsee” terminal in Mukran will “return to its original sendout capacity at the latest by 2027 and provide competitive infrastructure services to the largest gas market in Europe and continue to be a pillar for security of supply in Germany and Europe,” the firm said.
Deutsche ReGas did not provide further details regarding the FSRU.
The firm is offering 5 bcma of “competitive” long-term capacity starting in 2027 up until 2043.
According to Deutsche ReGas, the open season will end on July 4, and interested parties are requested to send an email before April 17.
In February, Deutsche ReGas terminated the charter contract for the FSRU Energos Power with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
The vessel was one of two FSRUs operating at the LNG import terminal in Mukran.
Since December 2024, state-owned LNG terminal operator DET has been systematically marketing its capacities for the regulated LNG terminals at prices “significantly below” the cost-covering fees approved by the German Federal Network Agency, Deutsche ReGas said.
This has led and continues to lead to “significant market distortion” in Germany, according to the firm.
“DET’s ruinous pricing policy since December 2024 is one of several reasons for terminating
the sub-charter contract. Deutsche ReGas regrets being forced to take this step,“ said Ingo
Wagner, managing partner of Deutsche ReGas.
DET rejected this claim by Deutsche ReGas.
A spokesman for DET previously told LNG Prime that the company “complies with the regulatory requirements for the marketing of regasification capacities for its terminals.”
“DET rejects any accusations to the contrary by Deutsche ReGas,” he said.
Mukran LNG terminal
In June 2023, Deutsche ReGas signed a deal with the German government to sub-charter the vessel delivered in 2021 by Hudong-Zhonghua.
The firm took over the charter of the unit in October of the same year, while the FSRU arrived in Mukran in February 2024.
This FSRU is owned by US-based Energos Infrastructure, controlled by asset manager Apollo.
The Mukran LNG terminal now consists of the 2009-built 145,000-cbm, FSRU Neptune.
This unit is 50 percent owned by Hoegh Evi and sub-chartered by Deutsche ReGas from French energy giant TotalEnergies, who also holds capacity rights at the Mukran facility along with trader MET.
In September 2024, Deutsche ReGas launched commercial operations at its Mukran LNG terminal.
Including both FSRUs, the terminal was capable of handling up to 13.5 cbm per year.
It is worth mentioning here that local media reports said this week that Deutsche ReGas also received approval from the government for LNG reloading operations at the Mukran facility.
Apparently, the original permit did not cover reloading operations.
LNG Prime invited Deutsche ReGas to comment on the matter, but we did not receive a reply.
In September 2024, Deutsche ReGas completed the first reloading operation in Mukran.
Deutsche ReGas said at the time that reloading involves using smaller LNG tankers to deliver LNG to locations in the region that do not have a connection to the pipeline system.
This can ensure security of supply for northern European regions that receive gas via smaller regional regasification plants, it said.