Will Germany be able to find an alternative to Russia in Qatar?
Germany signed a contract with Qatar to buy 2 million tonnes of liquefied gas (natural gas) annually for 15 years.
The agreement was made in a series of efforts to reduce dependence on Russia.
In the year 2021, 100 billion cubic meters of gas was consumed in Germany.
In Germany, 27 percent of natural gas is used for energy.
Before the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, Germany used to import about 55 percent of this requirement from Russia.
After the US sanctions on Russia, European countries are reducing their dependence on Russia for oil and natural gas.
“It is believed that when an oil or gas pipeline is built between two countries, they get married. Through this, their closeness increases and diplomatic relations deepen. But, we have seen that despite having such an old pipeline, Ukraine But after the Russian attack, the kind of differences that have come in the whole of Western Europe and Russia, then this theory has failed. Investment of billions of dollars can be wasted.
Well-known energy expert of India and currently associated with BJP, Narendra Taneja expresses the deteriorating relations between Germany and Russia in this way.
Europe is reducing its natural gas dependence on Russia after the Russia-Ukraine war. Germany has taken a step further in this direction.
German oil companies have signed a contract with Qatar to buy 2 million tonnes of liquid gas annually. This contract has been announced by Qatar’s company Qatar Energy. It will start from the year 2026.
Qatar will supply natural gas to American company ConocoPhillips, which will then transport it to Germany’s Bernspatrie LNG terminal.
Germany is using LNG terminals for gas supply. Here natural gas will be converted into liquid and filled in tankers.
Germany’s Economy Minister Robert Habeck said that Germany should reduce its dependence on gas supplies from Russia and increase its sources.
Prior to February this year, the supply of natural gas through the Nord Stream pipeline between Germany and Russia was going on unabated. Relations were good, the idea of starting another pipeline was on.
But, after Russia’s attack on Ukraine on February 24, relations between European countries and Russia changed. America and European countries imposed many restrictions on the purchase of oil and gas from Russia.
America announced a complete ban on the import of oil, gas and coal from Russia. After this, Britain has to stop the supply of oil from Russia by the end of this year.
But, meanwhile, it also started to arise that European countries buy large quantities of natural gas from Russia. Their dependence on Russia is more than other countries.
After this, efforts were made to depend on natural gas from Russia.
Under this, Germany is also looking for other options like America, Canada and Qatar.
But, is it possible to end dependence on Russia and what will be the effect of the deal with Qatar.
old relationship between germany and russia
Although Russia supplies natural gas to European countries, but the pipeline ‘Nord Stream-1’ connecting Russia and Germany was once considered a symbol of trust between the two countries.
It cost more than 15 billion dollars to prepare it then and its only purpose was that Russia’s gas would continue to accelerate Germany’s economy for many decades to come.
But, now due to the conflict between the two countries, not only the question has arisen on the supply of energy needs, but the future of this pipeline is also hanging in balance.
Talking about the consumption of natural gas in Germany, in the year 2021, 100 billion cubic meters of gas was consumed in the country.
According to the news agency Reuters, 40 percent is consumed at the domestic level and small scale industries and 60 percent is consumed by large industries.
In Germany, 27 percent of natural gas is used for energy. Before the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, Germany used to import about 55 percent of this requirement from Russia.
Opposition leader in Germany, Klaus Ernst, tweeted, “The government is celebrating its deal with Qatar. But, the truth is that this 2 million tonnes of LNG meets only three percent of Germany’s gas needs. Russia Still no solid alternative has been found.
