Germany In Talks With Qatar On Long-term Gas Supplies To Reduce Dependence On Russia

German Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck speaks at an extraordinary meeting after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, at the Bundestag’s lower house of parliament in Berlin, Germany, February 27, 2022. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi

March 20 – Germany and Qatar are in talks for a long-term energy partnership, government officials from both sides said Sunday as Europe’s largest economy seeks to become less dependent on Russian energy sources.

Germany said the partnership had been struck, but Qatar would not say the deal was complete.

Russia is Germany’s largest supplier of gas, and German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has launched a series of initiatives aimed at reducing his country’s energy dependence on Russia after it invaded neighboring Ukraine.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received Habek on Sunday, and they discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the energy sector, an emir court said in a statement on Sunday.

Qatar said companies from both countries “will resume and continue discussions on long-term LNG supplies,” QatarEnergy, the state-owned oil and gas company, said in a statement.

A spokesman for the German Economics Ministry in Berlin confirmed that the deal had been completed.

“The companies that came to Qatar with (Habek) will now enter into contract negotiations with the Qatari side,” the spokesman said.

Qatar said in a statement that for years it has sought to supply gas to Germany, but discussions have not led to concrete agreements.

Germany recently announced plans to build two LNG terminals. Without terminals, Germany is currently unable to receive direct LNG supplies from Qatar.

Habek also met with Qatari Minister of State for Energy Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi in Doha, where they discussed energy relations and cooperation between Qatar, one of the world’s largest natural gas exporters, and Germany, and ways to improve them, the statement said. Al Kaabi.

Reporting by Moataz Mohamed, Andrew Mills and Klaus Lauer; Written by Shakeel Ahmad, Moathas Mohamed, Tom Sims and Andrew Mills; Edited by David Clark, Francis Curry and Hugh Lawson

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