Germany seals gas deal with Qatar to reduce dependence on Russia

Germany has sought to scale back its vitality dependence on Russia since Moscow invaded Ukraine.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani shakes hands with German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, in Doha, Qatar
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani shakes arms with German financial system minister Robert Habeck in Doha, Qatar, March 20, 2022 [Amiri Diwan/Handout Reuters]

Germany and Qatar have reached a long-term vitality partnership, a German official has mentioned, as Europe’s largest financial system seeks to develop into much less depending on Russian vitality sources.

Russia is the biggest provider of gasoline to Germany and German financial system minister Robert Habeck has launched a number of initiatives to minimize Germany’s vitality dependence on Russia because it invaded its neighbour Ukraine.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met Habeck on Sunday and the 2 mentioned methods to reinforce bilateral relations, significantly within the vitality sector, the Emiri courtroom mentioned in a press release.

A spokesperson for the German economics ministry in Berlin confirmed on Sunday that a deal had been clinched.

“The businesses which have come to Qatar with (Habeck) will now enter into contract negotiations with the Qatari facet,” the spokesperson mentioned.

In a press release, Qatar mentioned that for years it had sought to produce Germany however discussions by no means led to concrete agreements.

Qatar mentioned it agreed with Germany that “their respective business entities would re-engage and progress discussions on long run LNG provides”.

Habeck additionally met Qatari Minister of State for Power Affairs Saad Sherida al-Kaabi in Doha, the place they mentioned vitality relations and cooperation between Qatar, one of many world’s high pure gasoline exporters, and Germany, and methods to reinforce them, in keeping with a press release from al-Kaabi.

INTERACTIVE - gas exports

In late February, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz introduced the development of two new terminals for liquefied pure gasoline in response to what some critics mentioned was Germany’s over-reliance on Russian gasoline. The terminals are to be positioned in Brunsbuttel and Wilhelmshaven in northern Germany.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany placed on maintain the Nord Stream 2 gasoline pipeline venture designed to deliver Russian pure gasoline on to Germany by way of the Baltic Sea.

Germany intends to section out its nuclear energy manufacturing by the top of this 12 months, leaving observers questioning how Europe’s largest financial system will fulfill all of its vitality wants.

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