LNG capacity per Member State

The need for a rapid increase in LNG capacities put the spotlight on the uneven distribution of LNG import terminals and potential capacity across Europe (see Figure 2 below). While Spain has by far the highest capacity, weak interconnection capacity to France makes it very difficult for its LNG import terminals to supply other EU countries by pipeline. Besides Spain, import capacity is heavily concentrated in north-western Europe. In light of these infrastructural constraints, many EU countries sought to scale up their LNG capacity in 2022 and rapidly approved the construction of LNG terminals and smaller floating gas storage and regasification units (FSRUs). This includes Germany, which historically had no LNG capacity but which opened several FSRUs in 2022 and its second LNG terminal in January 2023.