Germany seeks long-term LNG supply from Qatar to replace Russian Gas

Germany has reached out to Qatar, one of the world’s top natural gas exporters, for a long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply deal to reduce its dependency on Russia, following its invasion of Ukraine.

The deal was explored during the meeting of HE Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, Qatari Minister of State for Energy Affairs with Mr. Robert Habeck, the vice-chancellor and the minister for economic affairs and climate action in Germany. Qatar Energy, a state-owned petroleum company, has been in talks about the supply of LNG to Germany for a number of years with German companies.

During the meeting, Mr. Habeck confirmed that the Government has taken swift and concrete actions to fast-track the development of two LNG receiving terminals to allow the long-term import of LNG to Germany.

Mr. Habeck also met Qatari Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Mr. Saad Sherida Al Kaabi in Doha, to discuss energy relations and cooperation between Qatar and Germany, and ways to enhance them.

According to reports, Germany’s gas crisis has weakened its economy, accelerating the need to push ahead with wind and solar electricity, insulating buildings to save heat, power grid expansion and scaling up renewable hydrogen.

Russia is the largest supplier of gas to Germany, with a 40 percent share of the country’s gas supply in January to March. The country has been supplying gas to Europe’s biggest economy for 50 years to heating homes, powering businesses, cooking food and lighting up streets.

According to the Planning and Statistics Authority, bilateral trade between Qatar and Germany reached $3 billion in 2021, up from $1.75 billion in 2020. The volume of Qatari exports increased from $137.3 million to more than $1.37 billion, resulting in a qualitative profit. While liquefied gas is the backbone of Qatari exports, most of the imports were cars and aircraft spare parts.

Related: QIC backs Qatar’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% in 2030