HomeNewsGermany's Uniper downplays increasing reliance on U.S. LNG, stresses diversification

Germany's Uniper downplays increasing reliance on U.S. LNG, stresses diversification

2/5/2026
  • Uniper's Poppinga trusts U.S. LNG system over political concerns
  • Uniper emphasizes need for diversification in sourcing LNG
  • S. LNG accounts for 96% of Germany's LNG imports

A top executive at German utility Uniper has played down European concerns over rising dependence on liquefied natural gas from the United States even as he stressed the need to diversify supply sources.

President Donald Trump's pursuit of "energy dominance" has intensified European concerns about heavy reliance on U.S. LNG, which has largely replaced volumes previously supplied by Russia.

U.S. LNG imports by the European Union have risen more than four-fold from 2021 levels to nearly 60 MMt in 2025, data from analytics firm Kpler showed.

"We are not dealing with an administration, we are dealing with companies operating in a certain system and I trust that system," Carsten Poppinga, Uniper's chief commercial officer, said on the sidelines of the LNG2026 conference. "That there will be a dominance of U.S. LNG, I think that's understandable and right, because it's the most economical solution."

Diversify to manage risks, Uniper COO says. Still, companies need to manage portfolio risks through diversification, Poppinga said, and Uniper was seeking to add supply sources, including in the Middle East and Argentina.

Germany received nearly 90% of all its piped gas and LNG from Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium in 2025, data from the country's energy regulator showed. LNG accounted for 10% of the total supply, with piped gas making up the rest.

However, the United States now accounts for 96% of all LNG imports through German terminals, most of these established during Europe's energy crisis after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

CEO Michael Lewis said that Uniper was interested in deepening global energy partnerships, and referenced German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to the Gulf region.

"Additional LNG options can help diversify Europe's energy supply and ensure the reliable operation of hydrogen-compatible gas-fired power plants from 2030 onwards. Long-term contracts usually offer price advantages in this regard," Lewis said.

Europe ‘must ovoid overdependence’ on one supplier. Those sentiments on diversification were echoed by Egbert Laege, CEO of German energy firm SEFE, who said Europe must not repeat past mistakes by becoming overly dependent on a single supplier or region.

After Russia invaded Ukraine, "the first reaction of Europe was to look to the U.S., because there were many projects on the verge of being licensed," Laege said at the conference. "But I think it would be a very big mistake to just lean on one region," he said.

Poppinga downplayed concerns of a global LNG supply glut due to new projects coming online, saying Asia's rising demand would absorb additional volumes.

"It might take some time (to rebalance), but I don't believe in a structural, long lasting oversupply," he said.

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