US LNG not yet competitive in European market – BDEW head

Germany could import liquefied natural gas (LNG) via its neighbouring countries, but this depends on the wholesale market prices of both LNG and pipeline gas, said Stefan Kapferer, head of utilities association BDEW, writes Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). “At the moment, pipeline gas is often much cheaper in Europe,” he said. Kapferer added that LNG can contribute to a further diversification of natural gas import sources in Europe. German energy company Uniper said: “As the European gas market is the cheapest-to-reach sales market for American LNG due to the relatively short transport routes, it will be of particular importance in Europe in the future.” Uniper has already signed a 20-year contract for US LNG, writes FAZ. During a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that Europe would import more LNG from the US in the future.

Read the article in German here.

For background, read the news digest item Trump lashes out at Nord Stream 2, says Germany is “totally controlled” by Russia and the factsheet Germany’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.