Qatar unveils first major gas deal for Germany
Qatar on Tuesday announced its first major deal to send liquefied natural gas to Germany as Europe scrambles to find alternatives to Russian energy sources.
Qatar's Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-kaabi said up to two million tons of gas a year would be sent for at least 15 years from 2026, and that state-run Qatarenergy was discussing other possible deals for Europe's biggest economy.
Kaabi, who is also Qatarenergy's chief executive, said so many European and Asian countries now want natural gas that he did not have enough negotiators to cope.
The talks for the latest deal took several months as Germany has resisted the long-term contracts that Qatar normally demands to justify its massive investment in the industry.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February increased pressure on the German government to find new sources. And the latest deal will not help the country get through the looming winter.
The gas will be bought through US firm Conocophillips, a long-term partner with Qatarenergy, and sent to a new terminal that Germany is hurrying to finish at Brunsbuttel.
“We are committed to contribute to the energy security of Germany and Europe at large,” Kaabi told a press conference after the signing ceremony with Conocophillips chief executive Ryan Lance.
Lance hailed the accord as “a vital contribution to world energy security”.
Qatar last week announced a 27-year agreement to ship four million tons a year to China. It said this was the longest contract agreed in the industry.
Qatari officials would not discuss prices but industry analysts have said Germany will have to pay a premium for the shorter contract and the hurried start to deliveries.
Kaabi again stressed the “sizeable investments” that his country has made in extracting gas for deliveries around the world.
But he also said that Qatar was negotiating with German companies to further increase the “volumes” being sent. — afp