ADNOC and RWE Aktiengesellschaft (RWE) transported the first LNG shipment from the Middle East to the Elbehafen floating LNG terminal in Brunsbüttel, Germany. The shipment of 137,000 cubic metres of LNG produced by ADNOC Gas at Das Island in Abu Dhabi is the commissioning cargo for the new floating LNG terminal in Brunsbüttel.
This follows the first shipment of ammonia in October of last year. The delivery is seen as a significant step in building Germany’s domestic LNG supply infrastructure and bolstering the nation’s energy security with natural gas because it came at a crucial time when the majority of European countries are struggling with an energy crisis as a result of the interruption of supply from Russia.
The cargo can generate enough electricity to power 900 million kilowatt hours, or almost a quarter million German households, for a whole year. A ceremony was held at the LNG cargo during the occasion and Ahmed Alebri, Acting CEO of ADNOC Gas, reportedly commented: “The successful delivery of the Middle East’s first LNG cargo to Germany demonstrates how the UAE is continuing to work closely with our strategic partners in responsibly providing secure, sustainable and affordable energy supplies.”
“The global demand for energy is increasing and as we build on the strong economic, energy security and climate action ties between our two nations, ADNOC Gas is ready to provide further shipments of this key transition fuel to our partner, RWE and German industry.”
Andree Stracke, Chief Executive Officer, RWE Supply & Trading, added: “After the arrival of the floating terminal in mid-January, the first LNG delivery from the Middle East is the next important step. The development of the LNG supply infrastructure in Germany continues to make rapid progress… RWE is pleased that we have ADNOC as a strong partner at our side and that we are working together to make Germany’s energy supply as secure as possible.”
Noting that Germany needed more liquified natural gas to arrive at terminals like Brunsbüttel, Stefan Wenzel, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, thanked the UAE and added: “Going forward, we must accelerate the switch from conventional natural gas to green hydrogen and derivates such as ammonia – which has the best chance of success at the European and international level. Internationally, the UAE is a very important partner for Germany, both for liquified natural gas cargos and hydrogen projects.”
The UAE-Germany Energy Security and Industry Accelerator (ESIA) Agreement was signed in September 2022 to expedite initiatives pertaining to energy security, decarbonization, and climate action that the two nations share a common interest in. ADNOC and RWE signed into an LNG supply arrangement as part of the deal, with further cargos designated exclusively for German clients beginning in 2023.
