LNG Terminal Wilhelmshaven GmbH (LTeW), a subsidiary of Uniper SE, is reevaluating plans for a 7-million tonne/year LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The decision follows market participants' reluctance to make binding bookings for import capacity at the planned terminal.
Terminal plans called for a 263,000-cu m floating storage and regasification unit, with Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd. contracted to supply the vessel.
The procedure for gauging market interest ended Nov. 6 without sufficient response. Numerous market players took part in the procedure and expressed general interest, but not enough made binding commitments.
LTeW is considering several new options for using the Wilhelmshaven site as an import port for environmentally friendly gas, including importing hydrogen.
"Economic uncertainties have definitely played a role in the current circumstances,” said project manager Oliver Giese of Uniper. “Many companies don't want to make long-term commitments at the moment. The results of the expression-of-interest procedure show that we need to revise the scope and focus of the planned terminal to ensure that it remains attractive to market players and economically predictable for LTeW and Uniper."
LTeW indicated several months ago that the final investment decision on the construction of a terminal would be made on the basis of sufficient demand from market players and economic viability.