Uniper halts Russian ammonia import plans

Germany-based company puts ammonia contract talks with Novatek on hold and restarts Wilhelmshaven LNG project in response to Ukraine crisis

German energy company Uniper has suspended plans to import large volumes of low-carbon ammonia from Russia and switched its focus back to LNG in response to the security of supply crisis triggered by the invasion of Ukraine. Uniper had in December agreed initial terms with Novatek, Russia’s largest independent oil and gas producer, to import up to 1.2mn t/yr of ammonia under a long-term contract. It had planned to convert the imported ammonia into hydrogen via a cracker to be installed as part of a proposed hydrogen hub at the north German port of Wilhelmshaven. But talks with Novatek have been put “on hold” and Uniper has reactivated plans to develop an LNG import terminal at Wilhelmshaven—