European Commission greenlights LNG terminal joint venture in Germany

A joint venture (JV) to develop a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Northern Germany has received the approval of the European Commission (EC).

The Commission concluded that participating companies in the JV namely Gasunie LNG Holding B.V., Vopak LNG Holding B.V., both of the Netherlands, and Oiltanking GmbH of Germany "are not active in the same product and geographic markets, or in a market which is upstream or downstream from those markets."

The three companies are currently conducting a feasibility study of putting up a multi-service LNG terminal in Brunsbüttel along the Elbe river close to the city of Hamburg. No financial investment decisions have been taken yet, according to a company release.

Gasunie provides gas storage, LNG, and infrastructure for the transport of natural gas and green gas in the Netherlands and Germany.

Royal Vopak operates a network of 67 terminals in 25 countries providing storage and handling of bulk liquid products and gases.

Oiltanking, a subsidiary of Marquard & Bahls, is an independent tank storage provider for petroleum products, chemicals, and gases operating 79 terminals in 24 countries.