German energy firm RWE is expecting to receive the first commissioning cargo at the Elbehafen FSRU-based LNG import terminal in Brunsbuettel in January.
The Brunsbuettel project is one the fast-track FSRU-based developments Germany is working on in order to replace Russian pipeline gas supplies.
Germany currently has no operational terminals but the country is expected to have at least six operational FSRUs by the end of the next year.
The government backed the charter of five FSRUs while Deutsche ReGas is developing the first private FSRU-based facility in Lubmin.
The government-backed charters include the two units RWE chartered from Hoegh LNG, the Dynagas-owned 174,000-cbm Transgas Force and Transgas Power that will go on charter to Uniper, and Excelerate’s FSRU chartered by Engie, TES, and E.ON.
Now the 170,000-cbm FSRU Hoegh Esperanza is heading towards Germany to start serving the Uniper-led Wilhelmshaven facility. The FSRU took a cargo in Spain and this could become the first-ever LNG shipment to Germany.
Uniper is planning to launch this facility later this month.
Last month, Deutsche ReGas announced the arrival of the 2009-built 145,000-cbm FSRU Neptune in the Mukran Port on the island of Ruegen but the company is still awaiting to receive two approvals while bad weather could also affect the arrival of the FSRU in Lubmin.
The firm previously expected to launch this facility on December 1.
Brunsbuettel FSRU
In September, RWE signed a supply deal with UAE’s Adnoc on the first commercial LNG delivery to the Brunsbuettel FSRU-based import terminal.
Under the deal, Adnoc agreed to deliver the LNG shipment from the 6 mtpa Das Island plant off the coast of Abu Dhabi to the Elbehafen LNG terminal at Brunsbuettel, near Hamburg, in late December.
However, this will now move to January.
A spokesman for RWE told LNG Prime on Tuesday that “all those involved in the Brunsbuettel FSRU LNG project are working flat out to realize this ambitious and complex project.”
RWE’s partners include Hoegh LNG, which will provide the FSRU, Marine Service, Brunsbuettel Ports, as well as the German unit of Gasunie who is responsible for the connecting pipeline which is almost complete.
“The current planning status is that the FSRU will arrive in Brunsbuettel in the course of January. As a prerequisite for commissioning, the connection to the newly constructed technical infrastructure (electricity, gas and hot water) will then take place,” the spokesman said.
He said that RWE is expecting the first commissioning cargo in January.
The spokesman declined to comment which Hoegh LNG FSRU would serve the Brunsbuttel facility.
Hoegh LNG said in November it was preparing its FSRUs, namely Hoegh Gannet and Hoegh Giant, for upcoming contracts, including in Germany.
Media reports in Germany suggest that the 2018-built Hoegh Gannet would work at the Brunsbuettel terminal.
Hoegh Gannet was still on Tuesday located at Damen’s yard in Brest, France, while Hoegh Giant was off Denmark, their AIS data showed.