The level of loading of LNG terminals of the European Union countries, which have recently switched to renewable energy sources and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in order to reduce natural gas imports from Russia, decreased to 42%in 2024. This was reported by Anadolu with reference to the report of the Institute of Economics of Energy and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
According to IEEFA, the level of loading LNG terminals of the EU in 2023 was 58 %. Meanwhile, in 2024, the loading rate of half of the EU LNG terminals did not rise above 40%, including for a number of new floating terminals FRSU (floating installations for storage and re-stores). So, the level of loading LNG Mukran FSRU in Germany in Germany in Germany in Germany last year amounted to 8 %, Alexandroupolis fsru in Greece – 9 %, Toscana FSRU in Italy – 18%, EemShaven FSRU in the Netherlands – 34%, and Exemplar FSRU in Finland – 38%. Whereas the level of loading LNG -terminal in Barcelona (Spain) remained at 12 %, El Musel (Spain) -14 %, revestus (Greece) -22 %and Zebrugg (Belgium) -33 %.
Nevertheless, European countries still plan to invest in new terminals for IEEFA’s imports, this approach will lead to the fact that by 2030, European capacities for regagation will be loaded on an average of 30%, ”- The report is said.
– France has become the largest importer of Russian LNG
IEEFA Energy Ana Maria Yaller-Makarevich Energy recalled that at the beginning of the energy crisis in 2022, Europe developed plans to reduce dependence on Russian gas and ensure the safety of supplies.
The analyst noted that at that time, efforts were made to diversify the sources, the goals were set to increase the import of LNG and the use of renewable energy sources. At the same time, according to Yaller-Makarevich, the influence of such a policy on demand was not taken into account.
“Last week, the German company Deutsche Regas announced the termination of the FSRU Energos Power lease agreement, which has operated on February 2024. It was the only FSRU terminal in the country. The managing partner of Deutsche RECAS Ingner expressed regret The reason for the need to take such a step. The reason for this was the “predatory pricing policy” of Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET), the shares of which are completely belonging to the state.
The analyst indicated that last year the EU increased the import of Russian LNG by 18 percent compared to the previous year.