In the midst of the global energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, Qatar announced on Tuesday, November 29, an agreement to supply Germany with liquefied natural gas (LNG) for fifteen years from 2026.
This agreement, concluded between QatarEnergy and the American company ConocoPhilips, will contribute “to efforts to support energy security in Germany and Europe”, Qatari Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said at a joint press conference with ConocoPhillips chief executive Ryan Lance. Under this agreement, the Gulf country will supply from 2026 “up to 2 million tonnes of LNG per year” at the gas terminal under construction in Brunsbüttel, in northern Germany, the minister said.
In Berlin, the Minister of the Economy, Robert Habeck, said he was satisfied with the duration of the contract concluded with QatarEnergy, while specifying that “The companies affected should be aware that the receiving terminal in Germany will have to be phased out in due course if we are to meet our climate protection targets”. Saad Al-Kaabi said negotiations were underway with German companies for possible new supply contracts.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, Qatar courted by Europe
Asia (China, Japan and South Korea in the lead) is the main market for gas from Qatar, increasingly courted by European countries since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. But negotiations with the Europeans have been difficult, with Germany and other countries refusing to sign long-term agreements identical to those that bind Qatar to its Asian customers. Last week, the country reached a twenty-seven-year supply agreement with Chinese firm Sinopec, an industry-record duration.