The largest economy in Europe will receive liquefied natural gas by the end of December thanks to a contract German utility RWE has signed with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). RWE made the announcement on Sunday.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is trying to strengthen ties with the Gulf and discover alternate energy sources. So even though the initial amount to be provided is only a tiny amount. It’s a politically significant arrangement to support supply of gas from outside of Russia.
The agreement, which includes a letter of understanding for multiple-year LNG deliveries, was reached on the second day of Scholz’s two-day visit to the Gulf region.
Before the agreement was made official, Scholz told reporters that “we need to make sure that LNG production in the world is advanced to the point that the enormous demand that is currently there can be supplied without having to resort to the production capacity that is present in Russia.”
According to RWE, ADNOC will send a cargo of 137,000 cubic metres of LNG this year. The first LNG to be transported via the floating LNG import terminal at Brunsbüttel near Hamburg to the German gas market.
Additionally, ADNOC has a vague quantity of LNG cargoes allocated for Germany in 2023.
According to statistics from research firm Enerdata, Germany’s two new proposed floating LNG terminals will eventually be able to accept up to 12.5 billion cubic metres of LNG annually, or almost 13% of the nation’s gas consumption in 2021.
Germany on LNG
According to a statement from RWE. “This marks a key milestone in developing an LNG supply infrastructure in Germany and setting up a more diversified gas supply.”
German officials are hoping that a variety of agreements, such as the LNG contract reached with Abu Dhabi, will help to tame the spiralling cost of energy.
As the conflict in Ukraine erupted, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. Which was intended to transport fuel from Russia to Germany, was put on hold. Frustrated Germans protested on Sunday, calling for its restart.
One sign said, “Open Nord Stream 2 immediately.” Another stated, “Opening Nord Stream 2 = Prevention.” Where the pipeline enters Germany, in the city of Lubmin, organisers anticipated 5,000 protesters.
ADNOC has committed to sell ammonia to German businesses like Steag and Aurubis in addition to supplying RWE (NAFG.DE). Additionally, it will send German company Hoyer 250,000 tonnes of fuel every month.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. The president of the United Arab Emirates, signed a deal with Scholz earlier on Sunday that focuses on promoting economic development and energy security.
Separately, the German coast will be the site of wind energy development research by Masdar, a UAE-based renewable energy corporation.
In the wake of his discussions in Abu Dhabi, Scholz left for Qatar. He spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday in Jeddah.