Offshore LNG terminals in Europe. Part 2 Poland, Austria, Germany

31/03/2025

Offshore LNG terminals in Europe. Part 2 Poland, Austria, Germany

Following the 2022-2023 structural adjustment, gas markets by 2024 reached historical highs, helped by a recovery in demand and geopolitical reorientation. Analysts estimate that the positive trend will continue in the medium term, despite continuing challenges such as price volatility and logistical constraints.
The supply deficit is aggravated by the slow growth of LNG production, which remains below pre-crisis levels. At the same time, extreme weather events - abnormal cold in Asia and droughts in exporting regions - have increased competition for resources, putting additional pressure on global supply chains.
In Europe, despite a partial recovery of the industrial sector, gas consumption remains 15-20% below 2021 levels. This is due to both energy efficiency measures and the transition to RES, as well as continuing economic uncertainty.
In this context, diversification of import sources, expansion of regasification capacity and upgrading of pipeline networks become key priorities for energy security, Strategic filling of storage and strengthening international coordination through digital platforms and EU demand aggregators, which increases market transparency and reduces the risk of price shocks.
The ENTSOG information panel helps stakeholders to understand and use data related to European gas flows, LNG and storage.
In the light of current challenges to ensure energy security, Central Europe is intensively developing and strengthening infrastructure capacities for liquefied gas regasification.
The review of marine terminals for liquefied natural gas takes into account three key importing countries, namely Poland, Austria and Germany, which play a significant role in the regional structure of LNG imports.
For other continental countries in Central Europe, such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia, dependence on transit through Germany and Poland is a regional feature that forces to concentrate efforts on investments in gas storage facilities and networks.