Stade, 23 November 2023 – Three strong European energy suppliers will use the land-based terminal in Stade for natural gas imports from 2027: the Czech energy group ČEZ has booked the remaining capacity at the Hanseatic Energy Hub (HEH) of two billion cubic metres of natural gas per year. The contract runs for 15 years and can be extended for up to 25 years, including a later conversion to ammonia. Previously, the two German energy suppliers EnBW and SEFE had already secured long-term import rights of six and four billion cubic metres per year respectively. These bookings are also future-flexible and include the option to move to ammonia. In compliance with regulatory requirements, a further 1.3 billion cubic metres will be kept available for the spot market. The total capacity of the emission-free terminal is 13.3 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year with a send-out capacity of 21.7 GWh/h.
With the booking, the Czech Republic will be able to cover more than a quarter of its current annual gas consumption via the Hanseatic Energy Hub from 2027. For his country, this is another important step in strengthening energy security and independence from Russian fossil fuels, emphasised Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala at a press conference in Prague today (read the full statement: https://www.cez.cz/en/media/press-releases/the-czech-republic-is-strengthening-its-long-term-lng-energy-security.-cez-has-acquired-capacity-at-the-german-stade-terminal-184891). The Czech government had set itself the political goal of becoming engaged in a LNG terminal in a neighbouring country.
Daniel Beneš, CEO of ČEZ, describes the strategic approach: "Onshore terminals will gradually replace the temporary FSRUs, so from the outset we sought to acquire long-term capacity in one of them. Until recently, we had not been in the LNG market at all, and over the last year and a half we have gained a lot of experience on which we can now build. We have leased capacity at the floating terminal in Eemshaven until 2027, and thanks to Stade we will be able to smoothly continue supplying LNG after this date. Another advantage will be that the gas will only have to cross one international border on its way to the Czech Republic.”
Johann Killinger, initiator, co-shareholder and Managing Director of Hanseatic Energy Hub adds: "Our partnership with ČEZ emphasises the importance of European energy solidarity. We are delighted to be able to make this contribution to Europe's security of supply and look forward to working together in the future. We are now on the home straight with Hanseatic Energy Hub. 100 percent of our capacities are booked on a long-term and future-flexible basis."
The Hanseatic Energy Hub is planned as a future-flexible modular system for the energy transition. In the first stage of expansion, LNG and green energy sources such as bio-LNG and synthetic natural gas (SNG) can be imported via the emission-free terminal. At the same time, the terminal, port, industrial park and connection infrastructure are designed in such a way that a conversion to ammonia as a hydrogen-based energy source can take place in a modular fashion. With the booking of ČEZ, HEH has successfully finalised the long-term commercial marketing of the land-based terminal and is preparing for the final investment decision, which will be taken in the coming weeks. Until commissioning, Stade will also be home to an FSRU chartered by the German government.
About HEH
The Hanseatic Energy Hub (HEH) is a future flexible terminal for liquified natural gases at the Stade industrial site. The independent hub secures and diversifies Germany´s import needs for affordable energy. In the initial expansion stage, a zero-emission LNG terminal is set to go into operation from 2027, with infrastructure also approved for bio-LNG and SNG. The planned regasification capacity is 13.3 bcm/a, with a send-out capacity of 21.7 GWh/h. With the development of new climate-neutral energy sources, the hub will also facilitate the import of hydrogen-based energy carriers. HEH shareholders are the Buss Group, Enagás and Partners Group (on behalf of their clients), as well as Dow. www.hanseatic-energy-hub.de/en/
Contact press office
Charlotte Holzum
on behalf of Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH
c/o navos - Public Dialogue Consultants GmbH
Glashüttenstraße 79
20357 Hamburg
Phone: 040 69 638 76 44
Email: dialog@hanseatic-energy-hub.de