The Economics Minister opens doors for gas buyers from Germany.
(Photo: dpa)
The EU Commission and some EU countries take offense at the fact that Germany is traveling the world courting natural gas. This is “energy nationalism”, which is blocking the rest of the EU from the remaining sources of supply and is also driving up prices.
Is it really like that? Is Germany taking the gas away from the other Europeans with its market power and financial strength?
Some draw parallels to the corona pandemic, when EU countries hoarded their supplies of masks and medical supplies and booted each other out from potential suppliers in China. But the comparison is flawed.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck campaigned in Qatar for gas deliveries to Germany. He has previously done so in Norway and the United States. But he hasn’t bought a single cubic meter of gas himself, and he has no intention of doing so.
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Wholesalers like Uniper, RWE and a few others buy the gas. Habeck only opens the door to these companies with his travels. That’s the core of his job.
Coordinate the efforts of the individual EU countries when purchasing gas
If German companies now succeed in concluding supply contracts with the Qataris and other players, other EU countries will also benefit. Because the gas is not bought to hoard it; it ends up on the market. This market is a European market.
In theory, liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar, Norway or the USA that lands in Zeebrugge, Dunkirk or Rotterdam can be used throughout the EU. The only limit is the infrastructure, which needs to be further expanded.
The more gas Europeans buy, the more liquid the market is. That’s good for gas customers. The fact that the efforts of the individual EU states should be coordinated when purchasing gas is correct and does not contradict the visits of Habeck and other EU ministers to the producer countries.
What Europeans should urgently reconsider: For years they have expended a great deal of energy on banning long-term gas supply contracts. This is proving to be an obstacle today.
Who could blame a country like Qatar if it wants to back up enormous investments in expanding its capacities with long-term purchase agreements? The Europeans have to jump over their shadow here, otherwise courting for gas will not lead to the hoped-for success.
More: Habeck’s difficult search for new sources of supply for oil and gas