The count of floating storage and regasification units (FSRU) headed to Germany has officially risen to four as two of the nation’s major utilities pursue fast-tracked plans to increase liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity.

FSRU

RWE AG and Uniper SE each have chartered two FSRUs to displace Russian gas with LNG exports from Western allies by early 2023. The four projects could increase the amount of natural gas available in Germany’s natural gas grid by up to 29 billion cubic meters/year (Bcm/y) when completed.

The retrofitted vessels equipped with regasification equipment could be positioned at strategic points around Germany to convert imported LNG cargoes into gas that could be transported throughout the grid.

RWE chartered two FSRUs owned by Norway’s Höegh LNG As, which...