FRANKFURT, March 14 (Reuters) - Germany's liquefied

natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Elbe river port of Stade

expects its first floating regasification vessel (FSRU) to

arrive early on Friday, the state-appointed manager of

regasification terminals, said on Thursday.

Germany has been increasing LNG import capacity since

Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 forced it to find

alternatives to Russian pipeline gas.

The FSRU Energos Force, formerly called Transgas Force

before a change of ownership, will undergo several weeks of test

operations before being able to deliver up to 5 billion cubic

metres (bcm) of gas per year into German grids, a statement from

national terminal operator DET said.

It added the new capacity, enough to supply five million

households a year, will contribute to the security of supply and

gas price stability in Germany and Europe.

"This third DET LNG import terminal is an important step for

many companies that, despite technical efforts, are still

dependent on large quantities of natural gas for the time

being," Managing Director Peter Roettgen said.

DET also oversees the Brunsbuettel and Wilhelsmhaven LNG

terminals on the North Sea.

The Energos Force is owned by Energos Infrastructure, an

affiliate of Apollo Global Management.

Energos Infrastructure will handle regasification at the

terminal, while the coordination of the LNG carrier berthing,

gas flows and reporting will be managed by KN Energies

, a Lithuanian operator, on behalf of DET.

DET had commissioned project firm Hanseatic Energy Hub (HEH)

to build the structure for technical operation and maintenance

in cooperation with Dow Chemicals, which has a site in

the vicinity and wants to be involved in an emerging clean

ammonia business.

DET also said Wilhelmshaven expects another FSRU to be in

operation by the end of the year.