Germany to transfer Nord Stream gas power plant to Ukraine
Photo: Nord Stream gas pipeline pipes (Getty Images)
Germany plans to transfer to Ukraine a gas-fired power plant located at the connection point of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany’s gas transmission system, WELT reports.
The facility is located in Lubmin near Greifswald and was previously used to provide process heat during the transport of Russian gas. After supplies via the Baltic Sea were halted in 2022, the plant lost its function and became unprofitable.
According to Sefe Securing Energy for Europe GmbH, the majority owner of the facility’s operator, operations were fully suspended in 2023. The plant has a capacity of about 84 megawatts.
As no buyer could be found, the company decided to transfer the facility to Ukraine as humanitarian aid on a self-pickup basis.
"Therefore, as part of humanitarian assistance, the power plant will be handed over to a Ukrainian power plant operator on a self-pickup basis," Sefe said.
The company noted that the decision is economically reasonable, as it avoids the costs of dismantling and disposal. At the same time, the transfer is expected to support Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
However, the initiative has drawn criticism from representatives of the pro-Russian AfD party in the region. In particular, local politician Nikolaus Kramer called the transfer "absurd" and said the plant could have been used to strengthen Germany’s energy security.
The outlet recalled that the Nord Stream 1 pipeline was a key route for supplying Russian gas to Europe. However, in 2022, Russia reduced and later completely halted deliveries. The infrastructure of both Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 was later damaged by explosions.
Following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Germany announced it would stop importing Russian gas.
After the explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022, German investigators suggested that Russia could have been behind the sabotage, although Moscow denied it.
That same year, experts noted that the destruction of the infrastructure could have benefited the Kremlin, including as a way to justify halting gas supplies due to force majeure and avoid penalties for failing to meet contract obligations.
In March 2023, Russia announced the conservation of the damaged pipelines, referring to sealing the ruptured sections and protecting the metal from corrosion, with no mention at the time of restoring operations.
