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Business Last Updated: Oct 2, 2018 - 11:53:46 AM


The Transatlantic Liquefied Gas Dispute
By German Foreign Policy, 09/28/2018
Sep 30, 2018 - 11:32:29 AM

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German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has once again reaffirmed that the German government insists on continuing with the highly controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Despite persistent pressure from Washington, there will be no interference in the construction of the pipeline - which has long since begun - reiterated Maas at this years annual UN General Assembly in New York. At the same time, US efforts to promote the sale of US liquefied gas to Germany are stagnating. If the liquefied gas would be priced closer to the currently much cheaper pipeline gas, it could certainly be considered, according to the Uniper company (formerly EON). Uniper is currently contemplating the construction of a liquefied gas terminal in Wilhelmshaven. However, it would not even have one-fifth of the import capacity of Nord Stream 2. Plans for constructing a terminal in Brunsbüttel, which currently have the best chances of implementation, envisage the importation of only half as much LNG - primarily to fuel ships and trucks.

Europe's Number One Gas Hub

Following another complaint by US President Donald Trump Foreign Minister Heiko Maas once again reaffirmed at this year's annual UN General Assembly that the German government insists on building the Nord Stream 2. The pipeline, will deliver natural gas from Russia directly to Germany, reinforcing Germany's position as the most important gas hub of the EU. The pipeline has long-since been in construction, and is due to be completed by the end of next year. With their annual supply volume at 110 billion m³ Nord Stream 1 and 2 would be capable of satisfying almost one-fourth of the EU's natural gas needs, which in 2017 were at 467 billion m³. Germany is the EU's largest consumer with an annual consumption of around 95 billion m³, of which only 7.2 billion m³ was furnished from domestic sources in 2017.

Changes in the Natural Gas Sector

Over the next few years, Germany's natural gas sector is likely to face major changes. On the one hand, due to the planned exit from nuclear and coal energy sources, "a noticeable surge in the German ... natural gas sector ... can be expected," as an expert from the Federal Agency for Geological Studies and Natural Resources (BGR) confirmed.[1] At the same time, Germany's traditional gas supplier will cease deliveries, in a few years. The Netherlands, which, in 2015, was still furnishing around 37 percent of Germany's total gas imports, will halt exploitation of the Schlochteren field near Groningen, the source of its exports to Germany, by 2030, because the quantity and magnitudes of the earthquakes in the region of extraction have dramatically increased. Nord Stream 2 could easily fill the gap. However, the German government has also begun considering importing a certain amount of liquefied gas (liquefied natural gas - LNG) for various reasons.

LNG as Fuel

On the one hand, liquefied gas is becoming more important as a fuel. The first German LNG gas station opened in Hamburg in September, which can serve more than 200 trucks daily. In Germany LNG is used little, but in other countries it is rapidly growing as a source of truck fuel. Ships are also beginning to changeover - because the International Maritime Organization (IMO) a special UN organization now requires a rapid reduction of ship's exhaust emissions. A changeover from the toxic heavy oil to LNG is for many the means of choice. Just a few weeks ago, the world's first LNG fueled cruise ship was launched in Papenburg. Observers assume that the importance of LNG as ship fuel is growing rapidly. So far, LNG must be imported in tank trucks. The port in Hamburg is insisting on having its own liquefied gas terminal for Germany. Of course, a modest amount of imported fuel would suffice.

The Uncertainties on the World Market

In addition, there are the hardly calculable developments on the world liquefied gas market. Until now, LNG has been significantly more expensive than pipeline gas and therefore was sold mainly in Eastern Asia, where, for geographical and political reasons, there are no existing import pipeline networks. This was the case, especially for Japan, South Korea and - for the time being - China, even though the first natural gas pipeline from Russia to the People's Republic of China ("Power of Siberia") is nearly completed. Because of the high price, the EU's existing liquefied gas terminals - with a capacity of around 200 billion m³, or one and a half times more than Nord Stream 1 and 2 - are only functioning at 27 percent capacity. They are mainly being used by countries with less access to pipelines, and also as compensation for short-term fluctuations in demand. There are varying opinions as to whether LNG will remain more expensive than pipeline gas. Currently, several countries ranging from Australia, Indonesia to the United States are rapidly expanding their liquefied gas production. This rapid expansion of production could bring down the prices. At the same time, the consequences of the US trade war with China is uncertain. Last Monday, the People's Republic of China, which until now, had been the biggest customer for US LNG, has imposed a 10 percent counter-punitive tariff on US liquefied gas imports. US gas companies have now not only lost one of their best customers, but also the one with the fastest growing consumption. Therefore, it is not clear whether the decision to build new export terminals in the United States can be carried out. If not, the global LNG supply will grow less - and the price will probably remain high.

A Gas Station for Hamburg

In the midst of all these uncertainties, the German government had decided to agree to the construction of at least one LNG terminal - the first in the country, so that, if worse comes to worse, Germany will not be out in the cold in global developments. The best prospect is Brunsbüttel, at the Elbe estuary, where a terminal of 5 billion m³ annual capacity is planned. RWE will handle deliveries. Because of its proximity to the port of Hamburg, Brunsbüttel is particularly convenient for the supply of ship fuel. There are also plans for Stade, also with a beneficial proximity to Hamburg's harbor, and the local US Dow Chemical Company being involved in the delivery of chemicals to US fracking companies. Brunsbüttel - or Stade - could be considered minimal solutions for providing Germany with LNG fuel - possibly in addition to rather minor quantities for general gas consumption.

Not Competitive

In the hopes of favorable LNG price developments, Wilhelmshaven is now also seeking its chance. Back already in the 1970s, when the importation of liquefied gas to the Federal Republic of Germany was first being discussed, Wilhelmshaven had been in consideration as an LNG terminal location. Today, Uniper (formerly EON) is again considering it as a possible terminal site. According to Uniper, this would involve a somewhat greater capacity - an annual 10 billion m³. Presumably, the company will cooperate with Qatar, still the world's largest producer of liquefied gas. Negotiations with Qatari decision-makers were held during their recent stay in Berlin for the September 7 German-Qatari Economic Forum. US LNG would be another possibility, according to company representatives in mid September, following their talks with the US Ambassador, Richard Grenell and US Under Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, who were on a promotion offensive for US liquefied gas for several days in Germany. Uniper's basic condition is that the US liquefied gas price be competitive with that of pipeline gas. It will not be in the foreseeable future.

[1] BGR Energiestudie 2017: Weltweite Versorgungslage bei Energierohstoffen entspannt - Deutschland ist weltgrößter Erdgas-Importeur. bgr.bund.de 12.12.2017.

[2] Klaus Stratmann: USA werben bei Europäern für eigenes Flüssiggas. handelsblatt.com 12.09.2018.


Source:Ocnus.net 2018

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