German government seeks new site for LNG terminal near Rügen after protests

Berlin, 23 March (ČTK) – The German government is backing away from plans to build a terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG) near the seaside resort of Sellin on Rügen and is instead assessing Rügen’s port of Mukran as an alternative site. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs said so. Environmentalists, local authorities and the regional government had protested against locating up to two floating LNG regasification units near Sellin. Manuela Schwesig, Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, welcomed the change.

„It is good that the federal government is looking for alternatives to Sellin,“ Schwesig commented on Wednesday’s announcement by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs that it was assessing the port of Mukran.

The ministry, led by Robert Habeck of the Greens, said it viewed Mukran as a more suitable location. „A decision will be made soon,“ it added.

Local residents immediately voiced strong opposition to the terminal, which was to be located at sea about five kilometres from Sellin. Representatives of local authorities, the German nature conservation association NABU and the state government led by Minister-President Schwesig also joined the protests.