The crystal structure of a new ternary germanide, ErNi3Ge2, formed by a peritectoid reaction at about 1170 K has been determined by X-ray powder diffraction using the Rietveld method (783 reflections, space group P ($) over bar 6, Z=6, a=17.9662(2), c=3.79410(5) Angstrom, R(1)=5.93, R(wp)=13.15, R(exp)=7.40%). The compound represents a new structure type. The relationships between ErNi3Ge2 and CaCu5, YNi5Si3 and CeGa2Al2 types are discussed.