Siting and Approval Process for an LNG Terminal at Wilhelmshaven: A Case Study on Decision Making Concerning Risk-Prone Facilities in the Federal Republic of Germany

Atz, H. (1982). Siting and Approval Process for an LNG Terminal at Wilhelmshaven: A Case Study on Decision Making Concerning Risk-Prone Facilities in the Federal Republic of Germany. IIASA Collaborative Paper. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: CP-82-062

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Abstract

This case study was performed in the context of a larger research project at IIASA: the Study on Liquefied Energy Gas Terminal Siting (Kunreuther, Linnerooth, et al, 1982). A comparison of four concrete decision processes in four countries (namely the Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States), is an intrinsic part of this project. All the studies are concerned with siting decisions on major energy gas import or export facilities that were made in the last decade. The comparative evaluation of these case studies seeks, in particular, a greater insight into the way technical studies succeed or fail to influence political decisions.

In the FRG the selected decision concerns the siting of an import terminal to unload, store, and regasify liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipped in special tankers from distant producing countries. This project was conceived around 1970 by German energy companies. Approximately ten years later, in July 1979, the plans for an LNG terminal at Wilhelmshaven had received all the necessary approvals, licenses, and permits for construction to be started. The description and analysis of the public decision-making process leading to this approval is the topic of the study presented here. Since the main goal of this research is a deeper understanding of the events leading up to such a decision, it does not matter that the project has yet to be realized.

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