In response to Russia’s invasion and brutal war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022, many European nations, particularly Germany, have banned Russian fossil fuels imports. For Germany this has meant not only finding new sources of liquified natural gas (LNG), but also spurred the government to establish several new LNG terminals. However, LNG, which is mainly cooled and compressed methane, represents a major source of climate-harming emissions.
Germany, which had no LNG ports prior to Russia’s invasion, has now embarked on a very controversial port and terminal-construction binge, citing the need to maintain energy security. As demand for LNG rises, many of the world’s largest energy firms are raking in record profits – and exporters like the United States have been reaping the benefits. To help us understand the changing LNG situation and to breakdown LNG’s climate impacts, lead blogger and our host, Michael Buchsbaum interviews the tireless environmental researcher and campaigner, as well as fellow Energy Transition writer, Andy Gheorghiu.
Show notes
More about our guest, Andy Gheorghiu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-gheorghiu-2aa816b8/
Recent blogs for the ET:
- https://energytransition.org/2022/04/lng-terminals-for-germany-part-i-brief-history-and-state-of-play/
- https://energytransition.org/2022/04/lng-terminals-for-germany-part-ii-climate-impacts-possible-suppliers-and-priorities-in-an-energy-and-climate-crisis/
Recent mentions in other media: https://www.dw.com/en/lng-for-germany-uae-delivers-first-shipment/a-64292879
More about the Global Gas and Oil Network, Beyond Gas Network, and the Break Free From Plastic Movement:
- https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/
- Global Oil & Gas Network: https://ggon.org/
- https://beyondgasnetwork.org/
About plastic and the role of methane: https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/winter-is-coming/
Publication in Nature about LNG and methane over 3%: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-35419-7
Information about Germany’s LNG Fast Tracking law:
- https://www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/liquefied-gas-does-lng-have-place-germanys-energy-future
- https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/EN/Pressemitteilungen/2023/03/20230303-bmwk-legt-bericht-zu-planungen-und-kapazitaeten-der-schwimmenden-und-festen-lng-terminals-vor.html
Information about US LNG exports:
- https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-poised-become-net-exporter-crude-oil-2023-2022-12-19/
- https://www.dw.com/en/to-cut-off-russian-gas-eu-burns-billions-on-lng/a-63863444
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/22/gas-industry-ukraine-war-biden-policy
- https://www.montelnews.com/news/1502701/europes-may-lng-imports-fourth-highest-on-record-at-155bcm
- https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=56400
- https://www.investigate-europe.eu/en/2023/lng-fever-mega-contracts-shale-gas-imports-us/
- https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-huge-excess-lng-liquefied-natural-gas-import-capacity-expert-warn/
Current state of controversy around a potential LNG port in Rügen:
- https://www.duh.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilung/lng-terminal-auf-ruegen-breites-buendnis-gibt-buergerinnen-und-buergern-eine-stimme-und-fordert-antwort/
- https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/nordmagazin/ruegen-ist-das-lng-terminal-noch-aufzuhalten/ndr/Y3JpZDovL25kci5kZS85ZmM0ZTBiYy1jODkxLTQ0NDQtODA2OS1kMmVhMTAwZGI2ZTY