On 3 January Germany’s first full cargo of liquefied natural gas for the new Uniper-operated LNG terminal arrived in Wilhelmshaven. The LNG ship Maria Energy, owned by Tsakos Energy Navigation, was loaded in Calcasieu Pass, USA, at the liquefaction facility of the LNG supplier Venture Global Calcasieu Pass on 19 December.

Fully loaded, the Maria Energy contains 170 000 cu m LNG (97 147 000 cubic meters of natural gas), enough to supply around 50 000 German households with energy for one year.

Niek den Hollander, Uniper CCO said: "The use of LNG as a reliable energy source is crucial for the security of supply for Germany and Europe. We are committed to contribute our part by bringing more LNG to the European market and especially Germany via the Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbüttel Regas terminals."

The LNG cargo delivered by the Maria Energy forms part of the commissioning process at the Wilhelmshaven terminal. Commercial operations are expected to start in mid-January 2023.

The Uniper LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven was opened on December 17, 2022. Via the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) Höegh Esperanza, about five billion cu m of natural gas can be landed in Germany per year.