German parliament clears way for LNG terminal on Rügen

Berlin, 7 July (CTK correspondent) – The German parliament today cleared the way for the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the German Baltic island of Rügen, as lawmakers approved the inclusion of Rügen’s port of Mukran in a law to accelerate the construction of gas infrastructure facilities. Opposition parties and environmental groups, as well as the regional government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, oppose the terminal on the popular holiday island.

The law, which now includes Mukran, states that the port on Rügen is needed to ensure Germany’s energy security. It also notes that the LNG facility could be used in future to import hydrogen, which Germany sees as a key climate-neutral energy source.

The government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which strongly pursued the construction of an LNG terminal in the region after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has not voiced support for the plans on Rügen. The regional government had demanded financial support from Berlin and guarantees that the terminal would eventually be converted into a hydrogen import hub in return for its approval.